''The Cedar Tree'' was a television serial that ran from 1976 to 1979 on ITV in the United Kingdom. It involved the story of the upper class Bourne family before the turn of the Second World War. The main setting is Larkfield Manor, the family home set in

Herefordshire Herefordshire () is a county in the West Midlands of England, governed by Herefordshire Council. It is bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouths ...

, in the grounds of which is the cedar tree. ''The Cedar Tree'' was made by Associated Television Productions (ATV) and recorded at their studios at Elstree. Two established cast members were the veteran actress Joyce Carey and

Susan Skipper Susan Valentine (born 27 January 1951 in London), known until 2015 as Susan Skipper, is a British television, film and stage actress. She is best known for playing the parts of Victoria Bourne in ''The Cedar Tree'', Tina in '' West End Tales'' a ...

, who played one of the Bourne family's daughters. Two other noted actors involved were

Philip Latham Charles Philip Latham (17 January 1929 – 20 June 2020) was a British television actor. He was educated at Felsted School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, from which he graduated in 1951. In the late 1960s/early 1970s he was well kno ...

as Commander Bourne, and

Cyril Luckham Cyril Alexander Garland Luckham (25 July 1907 – 8 February 1989) was an English film, television and theatre actor. He was the husband of stage and screen actress Violet Lamb. Career The son of a paymaster captain in the Royal Navy, Cyril Lu ...

, as Charles Ashley, the benevolent grandfather. The first two series were shown on ITV in the afternoon in a thirty-minute twice weekly format, the final series was given an evening prime time slot and the episodes were extended to sixty minutes, and in a bizarre bit of casting

Jack Watling Jack Stanley Watling (13 January 1923 – 22 May 2001) was an English actor. Life and career The son of a travelling scrap metal dealer, Watling trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts as a child; and made his stage debut in ''Where ...

who had been playing Captain Julian Palmer, an old friend of the Bourne family, in series 2, took over the role of Arthur Bourne in series 3. In February 2013 it was announced that the first 1976 series was to be released on DVD. A complete box set of all three series has since been released.

Cast

* Joyce Carey – Lady Alice Bourne, widowed mother of Arthur and Phyllis *

– Commander Arthur Bourne (series' 1 & 2) *

Susan Engel Susan Engel (born 25 March 1935) is a British actress. She was born in Vienna, Austria. Career Theatre Engel's work in theatre includes: ''Angels in America'' (1992), ''Richard III'', ''King Lear'' (1990), '' The Good Person of Sezuan'', '' W ...

– Helen Bourne, Arthur's wife *

Sally Osborne Sally Osborne (born 19 September 1952) is a British film and television actress. She has appeared in a number of television series including ''The Cedar Tree'', ''Cribb'', ''King's Royal'', ''The Duchess of Duke Street'', ''A Tale of Two Cities'' ...

– Elizabeth Bourne, eldest daughter of Arthur & Helen Bourne * Jennifer Lonsdale – Anne Bourne, middle daughter of Arthur & Helen Bourne *

– Victoria Bourne, youngest daughter of Arthur & Helen Bourne * Kate Coleridge – Phyllis Bourne, Arthur's sister *

– Charles Ashley, father of Arthur's wife Helen *

Gary Raymond Gary Barrymore Raymond (born 20 April 1935) is an English film, television and theatre actor. Biography Gary Raymond was born in Brixton, London, to theatrical parents, both of whom were variety artistes. The youngest of three brothers, Gary a ...

– Jack Poole *

Carol Royle Carol Buchanan Royle (born 10 February 1954) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Jenny Russell in the BBC sitcom '' Life Without George'' (1987—1989) and Lady Patricia Brewster in '' Heartbeat'' (1997—2003). Early life Born ...

– Laura Collins, friend of Victoria * Jean Taylor Smith – Nanny * Peter Hill – Gates, the Bourne's chauffeur and general help * Ruth Holden – Mrs. Gates, the Bourne's housekeeper * Shaun Scott – Jim Tapper, assistant to Gates *

Alan Browning Alan Brown (23 March 1926 – 7 September 1979), known professionally as Alan Browning, was an English actor. He is best remembered for portraying Alan Howard in the television series ''Coronation Street'', a role he played from 1969 to 1973. H ...

series 1 & 2/

Richard Thorp Richard Stanley Thorp (2 January 1932 – 22 May 2013) was an English actor. He was best known for his 30-year tenure portraying Alan Turner in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 1982 to 2013. He also appeared in films such as '' The Dam Bu ...

series 3 – Geoffrey Cartland * Lillias Walker – Rosemary Cartland * John Oxley – Peter Cartland *

Tom Chatto Tom Chatto (born Thomas Chatto St George Sproule; 1 September 1920 – 8 August 1982) was an English actor who made numerous appearances on television, film, and stage between 1957 and his death in 1982. Early life and career Chatto is a great- ...

– Parsons, the Cartland's butler * John Hug – Gwylym Meredith-Jones *

Joan Newell Joan Newell (1915–2012) was a British actress primarily known for her television roles, but who also appeared in films and on stage. She co-starred with John Slater in the 1953 series ''Johnny, You're Wanted''.Baskin p.11 Amongst her most promi ...

– Winifred Hedges *

Patrick Ryecart Patrick Geoffrey Ryecart (born 9 May 1952) is an English actor. Early life and career Ryecart was born in Warwick, Warwickshire. His first West End appearance was in Bernard Shaw's ''Candida (play), Candida'' at the Albery Theatre, playing t ...

/Steven Pacey – Klaus Von Heynig *

Nigel Havers Nigel Allan Havers (born 6 November 1951) is an English actor. His film roles include Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film ''Chariots of Fire'', which earned him a BAFTA nomination; as Dr. Rawlins in the 1987 Steven Spielberg war dram ...

– Rex Burton-Smith *

– Captain Julian Palmer (series 2) / Commander Arthur Bourne (series 3) *

Rosemary Nicols Rosemary Nicols (born Rosemary Claxton; 28 October 1941, in Bradford, England) is a British actress. She comes from a theatrical family and was the author of the 1967 book ''The Loving Adventures of Jaby''. Biography She was educated at Haberd ...

– Angela Scott, magazine reporter * Michael Macowan – Doctor Cropper * Pamela Mandell – Miss Pringle, owner of the Copper Kettle tearooms *

Richard Vernon Richard Evelyn Vernon (7 March 1925 – 4 December 1997) was a British actor. He appeared in many feature films and television programmes, often in aristocratic or supercilious roles. Prematurely balding and greying, Vernon settled into playi ...

– Lord Evelyn Forbes, old flame of Lady Alice Bourne *

Peter Egan Peter Joseph Egan (born 28 September 1946) is a British actor and animal rights activist. He is known for his television roles, including Hogarth in ''Big Breadwinner Hog'', the future George IV of the United Kingdom in ''Prince Regent'' (1979 ...

– Ralph Marsh

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cedar Tree, The 1970s British drama television series 1976 British television series debuts 1979 British television series endings British television soap operas ITV soap operas Television shows produced by Associated Television (ATV) Television series by ITV Studios English-language television shows Television shows shot at ATV Elstree Studios