Sad to read the news that Patrick Macnee, John Steed from the Avengers, has died at the age of 93. Another name from my very early formative years has left us.
I never quite knew what The Avengers was all about. I am not going to Google it now and give you a smart ass answer (like I regularly do with other subjects), but it was never clear to me who he was working for or who paid him his wages. Perhaps with fantasy TV, it’s best to not even think about these things.
I used to watch the show with my mum on a Saturday night. I cannot remember a single episode but I do recall that the highlight of the evening was to watch The Avengers whilst eating large quantities of cheese. I have no idea of the significance of this, if there was any. But I do know that it was a rare treat to be allowed to eat cheese when The Avengers was on.
His assistant when I watched was Miss Emma Peel, Diana Rigg, who wore black leather from head to toe. Even I was too young to appreciate this at the time. I do not know why she was his assistant, other than the fact that she was a wonderful actor, looked amazing and had a nice line in martial arts. That was probably enough.
Years later and The Avengers returned with Macnee now accompanied by Purdey, played by Joanna Lumley who as we know went on to have a glittering career and Gareth Hunt who went on to star in some coffee adverts. But it was all about John Steed, whoever he was and whatever he did. He was the archetypal, suave British lead. I don’t remember him kicking lumps out of villains but he sure could talk himself out of any difficult situation.
The last time I saw him in anger was in the Oasis video for Don’t Look Back In Anger where he played, with Steed-like aplomb, the band’s chauffeur.
He’s a positive part of my childhood. I know nothing about him personally but at least I can look back, not in anger, but with fond memories of a great actor in a defining role. I can see myself now, back in Brislington with my mum, sitting in a little room with a loud sliding door, sitting before an open fireplace, watching The Avengers on our black and white TV.
Thanks for the memories, Paddy. Rest in peace.
