‘You lucky people’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 2

‘You lucky people’

“Thomas Edward Trinder, professional entertainer” — so read the Cockney visitor’s passport at Christchurch Airport, but to those familiar with show business it was the irrepressible comedian arriving on his second visit to New Zealand in 20 years. Here for a two-week tour, the topical, ad-lib comedian kept reporters highly amused and informed by his nearly encyclopedic knowledge of British show business personalities, and of changing trends in the entertainment world.

Mr Trinder (photograph above) remembers many New Zealand friends made on his first trip 20 years ago. J “My friends in those days were mainly cricketers like Bert Sutcliffe, and the spin bowler from Christchurch, Tom Burtt. I certainly hope to see something of these lads while I’m here,” he said. The present visit carries memories for Mrs Trinder who, on her husband’s first tour learned to fly with a club at New Plymouth, even though she die not “get her wings” until they had crossed the Tasman.

Mr Trinder never likes to stay in one place too long. “That’s the trouble with a television series or a long-playing engagement — they hold you down,” he said.

“I much prefer to travel around, it keeps you alive and alert. On this tour we’ve got Hong Kong, Australia, East Africa, and Canada.”

Their teen-age daughter came as far as Australia with Mr and Mrs Trinder but, being a member of the Ballet Rambert, she has since returned to London.

A Cockney who speaks Yiddish, Mr Trinder has appeared in films, on radio, and on television for three years and a half with ‘ Saturday Night at the London Palladium”. He has also had 13 Royal Command performances, not including shows he has given at Buckingham Palace, Balmoral. and Windsor. Mr Trinder believes comedy is universal but makes allowances for the changing trends in humour by his very topicality. Because his greatest asset is, he says, his memory, he has a fund of stories. The size of his repertoire can probably be beaten only by Ted Ray.

When not involved in show business Mr Trinder is often busy with soccer. He is chairman of the Fulham Association Football Club which bought the England captain, Bobby Moore, for £25,000 just before Mr Trindei left Britain on his present tour.

On form and consistency — plus having a

couple of former Fulham players in the side — Liverpool should win the F.A. Cup this year, he says.