David Andrews: A Six-Decade Career in Acting and Directing
David Andrews, who has died aged 90, was an accomplished actor and director whose professional journey in theatre, film, and television spanned an impressive six decades. His father, Reginald, worked as an accountant, and his mother was Freda (nee Stewart). Born in Sanderstead, Surrey, David received his education at Whitgift school in Croydon, which was evacuated to Devon during the Second World War.
Early Acting Roles and Training
After completing national service with the RAF as a radio operator in Merseyside, David decided to pursue a career in acting. He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where one of his contemporaries was the renowned actress Judi Dench. Graduating in 1955, he was awarded the school's gold medal for his outstanding performance.
As an actor, David performed multiple roles in the BBC's landmark 1958 television series An Age of Kings. He also originated the role of Private Whittaker in The Long and the Short and the Tall at the Royal Court theatre in 1959, appearing alongside Peter O'Toole. His film work included notable appearances in Some People (1962), with Kenneth More, and A Place to Go (1963), featuring Rita Tushingham.
Transition to Directing and Major Achievements
Eventually drawn to the technical side of production, David retrained on the BBC directors' course in 1965. He subsequently worked for the Central Office of Information, directing recruitment films for the armed forces. His directing career flourished with significant projects for Scottish Television (STV), including Bubble Boy (1983) and Stookie (1985), both of which were recognised with silver medals at the New York International Film and Television Festival.
Having spent part of his early childhood in Pitlochry, Perthshire, David developed a lifelong affection for Scotland. This connection led him to take up a senior directing role at STV in 1979, settling in Fairlie, Ayrshire, for most of the remainder of his life. He remained at STV until 1989 before transitioning to freelance work.
Freelance Work and Later Career
As a freelance director, David acquired credits on several popular television series, including Grange Hill, EastEnders, Jupiter Moon, The Biz, and Strathblair. From 1996, he spent nearly a decade at Mersey Television, where he directed numerous episodes of Hollyoaks and Brookside. Notably, he directed more than 100 episodes of Hollyoaks during his tenure.
Retirement and Personal Life
In retirement from 2005, David took on cameo roles on television and occasional voice parts. He remained an avid cinema-goer and formed a folk band called Hazy Days (and Nights!), which primarily performed in pubs in Glasgow. David was married and divorced twice, first to Tamara Hinchco and then to Anne Vels. He is survived by two children from his first marriage, Bronwen and Rowan, three children from his second marriage, James, Katherine, and the author of this obituary, along with 11 grandchildren.
