Richard Briers will be Missed

Richard Briers

      As those of you who are devoted to Daniel's blog know, one of Daniel's favorite television series was BBC's Monarch of the Glen.    Richard Briers had played the very funny patriarch in the program, Hector MacDonald.  

 Richard Briers passed away yesterday.

       Richard Briers performed on BBC's Monarch of the Glen in 27 episodes from 2000-2005.
He was also known for his Shakespearean roles and for his acting in a number of British series television programs, such as The Good Life, with Felicity Kendall, and Watership Down.

       Stephen Fry has also called Richard Briers "the funniest and most adorable man imaginable".

Richard Briers was awarded the OBE in 1989 for his achievements in the arts. Richard Briers was married    and has two adult daughters.  He died in his home in London,  peacefully of complications of emphysema which he had battled for years.  He was 79.

        He leaves a huge body of excellent work, and is remembered by everyone from actors to those who simply have watched British television in the past few years. His acting career spanned fifty years.



These are some scenes with Richard Briers as Hector MacDonald


Today, we send condolences to his wife Ann, the daughters, Lucy and Kate and  the family and friends of Richard Briers.


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The original music which was written for Monarch of the Glen is the work of Simon Brint.
Simon passed in 2011.
Our post on Simon Brint can be found:

www.learnedfromdaniel.blogspot.com/2011/06/simon-brint.html

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In the later portion of the film clip above, you may also recognize actor Julian Fellowes.    
Fellowes is not only recognized as a fine actor in many roles, but he is known to many Americans now as the creator and prominent writer of screenplays of BBC's Downton Abbey.

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Lastly,  Monarch of the Glen was filmed in Ardverikie Castle in Scotland.    When the series ended, all the props and articles used in the series needed to be removed from the castle itself.   Ecosse Films, the production company had a wonderful sale in the village where everything from clothing, props, housewares, drawings, plans, letters, mock up newspapers, photographs etc. were sold to those who wanted them.   We were very lucky to have been able to purchase a wide variety of items which were used in Monarch of the Glen episodes.   Daniel was very excited to know that we had many of the scripts, letters, drawings, props, and articles that were used in his favorite program.

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Monarch of the Glen

In 2005, our daughter Stephanie brought home a DVD from the library. It was the first season of the "Monarch of the Glen" television series, produced by Ecosse Films and BBC and set in Scotland. Daniel and I particularly were captivated by the cinematography, by the family oriented storylines, and we were quickly hooked. One by one, we either bought or borrowed each of the DVDs as were available to that point. We later learned that the final season of Monarch was in production, and that all of the props were going to be sold nearby the site of filming near Lagganmore in Scotland. Daniel was excited as I contacted the prop master and bought a few things. Shortly after I made contact with another person who went to the sale in Scotland and who bought a great deal, and I bought a considerable number of souvenirs from him which grace our home now. We also have a large collection of drawings, plans, continuity pictures, stationery, checkbooks, mail, etc. and likely have the largest "Monarch" memorabilia collection outside the UK. This was all to be Daniel's someday, souvenirs of his favorite program, collected through dumb luck and happy accident.
The Monarch of the Glen, Series 1-7 are available as BBC DVDs now. (Season 8 will be available shortly) Daniel absolutely loved these, and in an odd way, we began to feel as if the characters were actual family of ours. We were often reminded of our UK family members while watching the program. Strangely, when Daniel passed, I wanted to let all of the characters know. I somehow expected that they would all come and comfort us, and that somehow they knew that Daniel was their biggest fan. This is how very good the series were. They convinced us not only that they were a family, but they endeared us to them sufficiently that we left thinking they were OUR family as well. We wish all the crew, cameramen, series score composer, writers, producers, actors, propmasters, and continuity people best wishes as they move on to other projects. Thank you all for so many hours of enjoyment,on behalf of Daniel, myself and the rest of our family.






Update:       February 22, 2015

      For those of you with a deep and abiding love of this series, it was filmed at Ardverikie Castle in Scotland.

This is how it might look today.

How you might stay at  the Ardverikie Estate


 These are posts to this blog which I wrote later than this first one which relate in some way to the Monarch of the Glen series.

 http://learnedfromdaniel.blogspot.com/2013/02/richard-briers-will-be-missed.html

 http://learnedfromdaniel.blogspot.com/2012/01/dawn-steele-welcomes-daughter-coco.html

 http://learnedfromdaniel.blogspot.com/2011/11/dawn-steele-is-due-anytime.html

 http://learnedfromdaniel.blogspot.com/2011/06/simon-brint.html

 http://learnedfromdaniel.blogspot.com/2009/09/things-i-remember-that-daniel-loved.html