Harriet Philpin
Harriet Philpin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harriet Philpin Jones 1 November 1951 Westminster, London, England |
| Died | Between 1 January and 14 April 2025 (aged 73) |
| Alma mater | Guildford School of Acting |
| Occupations | Actress, seamstress, farmer |
| Years active | 1969–2025 |
| Spouse(s) |
William Roach
(m. 1975, divorced)David Andrews |
| Children | 2 |
Harriet Philpin (1 November 1951 – T1 2025) was a British actress, the daughter of Welsh cartoonist William John Philpin Jones.[1]
Philpin was best known in the UK for her appearances in the 1970s and 1980s as the wife of the 'Secret Lemonade Drinker' played by Julian Chagrin in commercials for R. White's Lemonade. In 2012, a nationwide search was held to track down the actress for a remake of the advert.[2][3] She was traced to her new home in Ireland and was subsequently reunited with her co-star for the updated 'Secret Lemonade Licker' commercial to promote the brand's ice lollies.[4]
Life and career
Philpin was born at Westminster Hospital in London, on 1 November 1951.[5] Trained at the Guildford School of Acting,[6] she first began appearing in repertory from 1969. Subsequently, she made her West End debut in the Francis Durbridge thriller Suddenly at Home in January 1973.[7] She also played Bettan in the 1975 Doctor Who serial Genesis of the Daleks, as well as appearing in such British television series as Blake's 7 and The Sweeney.
Giving up acting in the eighties to start a family, Philpin moved to Gloucestershire. There, with colleague Elspeth Williams, she set up Cottage Concern, looking after other people's weekend cottages in the Cotswolds, so as to stay busy and spend time with her family.[8]
Eventually, Philpin moved to Bere Island and began a textiles business specialising in reusing vintage materials.[9] A part of Bere Island Women Create, she held workshops making patchwork quilts.[10]
Philpin later became an organic farmer with her husband David Andrews, owning seven hectares of land, a small herd of Dexter cattle and a one-acre market garden. She was instrumental in setting up Bere Island's weekly farmers' market, selling organic vegetables, salads and herbs.[11][12][13]
At some point during the first third of 2025, Philpin passed away.[14][15] A commemoration of her life was held at the Bere Island Heritage Centre on 26 April 2025.[15]
References
- ^ "IN MEMORIAM: Mr W J Philpin Jones". The Daily Telegraph. 12 November 1992. p. 23. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "Search for wife from 70s 'The Secret Lemonade Drinker' TV ad". ITV News. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "Will it be all Whites on the night?". The Guardian. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "R Whites reinvents 'secret lemonade drinker'". Campaign. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ The front page of The Times on 2 November 1951
- ^ "Song recital by stage students". Surrey Advertiser. 14 March 1969. p. 15. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "Return to West End for Simon Oates". Middlesex County Times. 12 January 1973. p. 9. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "A thriving cottage industry". Western Daily Press. 28 December 1987. p. 8. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "Where Are They Now?". Rhythm & Booze (2): 5. June–July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023.
- ^ "Bere Island Women Create" (PDF). Bere Island Newsletter (90): 7. Summer 2024.
- ^ "Bere Island Farmers' Market going down a welcome treat". The Southern Star (County Cork). 19 August 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Harriet Roach & David Andrews". Farming for Nature. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ^ "The vegetarian beef farmers". YouTube. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ^ "Doctor Who In Memoriam 2025". Toby Hadoke on YouTube. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Weekly News Update". bereisland.net. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
Harriet Andrews RIP: There will be a commemoration of Harriet Andrews' life in the Bere Island Heritage Centre, on Saturday April 26th from 2pm to 4pm. All are welcome.
External links
- Harriet Philpin at IMDb
- Harriet Philpin at Theatricalia
- Harriet Philpin on Tardis Wiki, the Doctor Who Wiki