Dear old Vera Downend! Played by Zeph Gladstone, Vera is one of my absolute-ultimate-favourite Crossroads characters. I love her.
Ex-tart Vera started out in Crossroads living next door to single mother Diane Lawton, who had a grotty bedsit, in 1970. She was originally quite a slovenly character, but good-hearted and quickly became a hit with us viewers.
So Vera smartened up (in her own way) and came to the motel to open a hairdressing salon and live on the Harvey family's barge on the canal.
Wilf Harvey advanced Vera £3,000 to start the salon so, although we remember him mainly for being a grouse, he certainly wasn't all bad.
Vera was another of those magical Crossroads characters you felt you could confide in and, during my often troubled youth, I could have done with a chat with her on many occasions. In fact sometimes, in my imagination, I did visit her boat to confide in her - and, occasionally, when troubled, still do!
Vera was another of those magical Crossroads characters you felt you could confide in and, during my often troubled youth, I could have done with a chat with her on many occasions. In fact sometimes, in my imagination, I did visit her boat to confide in her - and, occasionally, when troubled, still do!
But she worried us. The section of the King's Oak canal (near Wilf Harvey's) where Vera lived looked downright seedy and her attention to security on the boat was, to put it mildly, rather lax. She was often seen wandering off to bed with no effort to 'batten down the hatches' (or whatever one does on barges), with just a flimsy interior door separating her from the despicable characters no doubt lurking on the canal banks.
We were genuinely worried about this.
There were no mobile phones in those days.
And she suffered. Weird and menacing goings on sometimes came Vera's way - and once she was even mugged. Though not on her boat.
Bless her.
The boat once suddenly sprang a leak. Cue dramatic ending of episode!
In 1976, the salon ran into financial difficulties. The motel took over, but kept Vera on as manageress.
Vera sprouted a long-lost son, Clive Merrow, late in her reign and experienced motherhood problems - and coming to terms with Clive's adopted mother. She came through it all brilliantly.
Romance was never smooth or easy - and all the nice girls love a sailor, including Vera. She dated Doug Randall (Richard Thorp - Alan Turner in Emmerdale Farm from 1982 onwards) for a time, but it came to naught. Doug was eager to escape his unhappy marriage, but his wife had other ideas and the situation was impossible.
And then, in 1977, Vera fell for creepy restaurant manager Max Lorimer, who bought her boat from Sheila Mollison and Stan Harvey, and basically set his cap at her in a most unhealthy way.
Vera found herself back on dry land, sharing Max's old flat with Diane, but not long afterwards finally departed from King's Oak.
I missed her dreadfully. My memories of her departure are that it was to be temporary and she would be returning. She was apparently working on a cruise ship for a time. I must have dreamt it, but I could swear there was an episode a few years later in which Diane said, 'I've just seen Vera in the village, and she says...' (referring to some ongoing storyline)
I missed her dreadfully. My memories of her departure are that it was to be temporary and she would be returning. She was apparently working on a cruise ship for a time. I must have dreamt it, but I could swear there was an episode a few years later in which Diane said, 'I've just seen Vera in the village, and she says...' (referring to some ongoing storyline)
And I suddenly had the notion that she would be reappearing. The hope flickered for a few weeks.
It was wishful thinking. A year long 'sabbatical' for actress Zeph Gladstone turned into a permanent departure as she was not asked back.
It was never the same. Pure magic, our Vera. A cherished memory.
It was wishful thinking. A year long 'sabbatical' for actress Zeph Gladstone turned into a permanent departure as she was not asked back.
It was never the same. Pure magic, our Vera. A cherished memory.
13 comments:
My parents watched Crossroads and for some reason I remember Vera and her barge very well, I suspect I actually found her a bit sexy but I was very young .
I can still remember an episode where she's trying to say "How now brown cow".
What the context was though I've no idea .
Vera did try to 'talk proper' and the 'how now' recitation was probably evidence of her continuing efforts!
Her wigs were a treat!
I was a big fan of Vera & infact wrote to Zeph Gladstone & we exchanged several letters in the 1970s. I also met her on three occasions when she took a break from Crossroads to tour in various stage plays. Nobody seems to mention her stage career.
Yes, I don't write a lot about the actors in the show, but if I do I'll certainly include Zeph's stage career. Wonderful actress - she played the role of Vera with great integrity - I think that's why I found her such a comfort when I was a kid.
Yes I think I also found the warmth her character Vera showed a comfort as a teenager. It would be nice for people to know that there was a lot more to Zeph's talents than playing Vera.
If ever you'd like to write something about it, I'd be happy to put it up on the blog.
Yes I would be happy too it may take me a while but I will compile something
as I still have the letters she wrote to me & programmes from the three stage plays I saw her in.
That would be lovely - and if you have any illustrations to include that would be even better! Thank you very much indeed!
Remember Zeph very well watched crossroads from the begining
What a great piece you have written about Zeph & her character Vera I can certainly relate to a lot of what you say you felt about the character. I haven't had time as yet to write the review you asked for but do intend to do it when time allows.
Thanks! My world was far from secure back then and Zeph's Vera helped me to feel some security. I look forward to reading your write-up on Zeph's career.
Just to say being a fan of Talking Pictures Tv in recent weeks it's been good to see Zeph on screen again. She was in an episode of Public Eye with Alfred Burke a few weeks ago & they are showing Dixon of Dock Green & some of her episodes are being shown.
Post a Comment