The actor Sam Kelly (Porridge, ‘Allo ‘Allo!, On the Up, Barbara, etc) sadly died on 14 June 2014. Not many people will be aware of his Abergele connection. His mother Mary and father Fred (who died many years before Mary) lived in Abergele in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. Some readers may remember Mary Kelly.

Sam’s real name was Roger Kelly and he came back to Abergele during filming breaks to see his folks. Because my mother had been a childhood friend of Roger’s when she grew up in Peel Green, near Manchester, and later in Conwy, we’d see Roger in Abergele quite often.

It was with sadness that I heard of his passing and he’s sure to be fondly remembered.