This Is Your Life: Harry Friend

P.C. Harry FRIEND BEM (1934-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Harry Friend, police constable, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews walking the streets of Teddington, having been led to believe he was being filmed for a documentary.

Harry, who was born in Wilmer, Deal, spent a year as an apprentice electrician after leaving school before serving in the Middle East with the British Army's Royal Signals. After being demobbed, he married and began working at an aircraft factory in Abergele, north Wales, but after being made redundant, he applied to join the Glamorgan Police Force.

Harry began his police training in Bridgend in 1959. Two years later, in 1961, he became the only PC in the Welsh village of Llanbradach and established himself as 'the epitome of the village policeman'. In addition to his job with the police, he and his wife fostered many children over the years.

programme details...

Edition No: 721
Subject No: 718
Broadcast date: Wed 4 Feb 1987
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: unknown
Venue: Teddington Studios
Series: 27
Edition: 17
Code name: Mate

on the guest list...

Verdon Evans
Fred Davies
Nigel Davies
Cy Watkins
Kenneth Ishue
Blanche - wife
Kim - daughter
Tony - son-in-law
Melanie - daughter
Mike - son-in-law
Tony - son
Glan Mills
Margaret Mills
Alison - foster daughter
Steven - foster son
Anthony - foster son
Leslie - brother
Pat - sister
Jenny - sister
Yvonne - sister
Alison - sister
Elwyn Davies
David Morgan
Fred Humphries
Brian Morgan
Shirley Vaughan
Joanna Vaughan
Jason Vaughan
Elgar Williams
Emily - granddaughter
Jane Ford
Philip Ford
Byron Ford
Gethin Davies
Rhiannon Davies
Rhys Davies
Rachel Davies
Rebecca Davies
Carol Davies
Kim Morris
Cilla Law
Margaret O'Hanlan
Philip Seabray
Keith Thomas
John Wheeler
Mary Wheeler
Robert Linder

production team...

Researchers: David N Mason, Colin Williams
Writer: Roy Bottomley
Directors: Terry Yarwood, Michael D Kent
Associate Producer: Brian Klein
Producer: Malcolm Morris

related pages...

Life Savers

heroes of the emergency services

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Screenshots of Harry Friend This Is Your Life

East Kent Mercury article - unknown source: Harry Friend This Is Your Life

East Kent Mercury 5 February 1987

"Harry Friend … this is your life!" The immortal words from the lips of Eamonn Andrews, disguised as a policeman at the start of last night's TV programme.

'Your life' shock for PC Harry

FORMER Deal boy PC Harry Friend was the subject of the television programme This Is Your Life last night (Wednesday).

And Harry's many sisters and brothers and their families from East Kent were there to celebrate the event with him.

Harry, who is 52, thought he was taking part in a film to promote the foster parent scheme. He and his wife Blanche are foster parents.

But he was taken completely by surprise when "PC" Eamonn Andrews approached him with the famous red book.

Harry used to live at Coldblow, Walmer, with his five sisters and two younger brothers. He went to the former isolation school at St Richard's Road and then to Sir Roger Manwood's.

He served in the Merchant Navy and REME. He moved to Wales 28 years ago and has been in the police for 27 years.

In the New Year Honours he was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Series 27 subjects