What was Captain Mainwaring's favourite description of Private Pike
"Mainwaring refers to Pike as 'stupid boy' as he did in the series.<ref> Private Pike Private Frank Pike is a fictional Home Guard private and junior bank clerk; he was appointed as the platoon's information officer by Captain Mainwaring in The Man and the Hour. He is frequently referred to by Captain Mainwaring as ""stupid boy"". In the BBC television sitcom ""Dad's Army"" he was portrayed by Ian Lavender. Pike was born in 1922, and is the youngest of the Walmington-on-Sea platoon. Aged 17 when the series begins, he is not old enough to join the army, although presumably he"
"The Making of Private Pike ""The Making of Private Pike"" is the second episode of the ninth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on 9 October 1977. Finally, Mainwaring has his own staff car. Pike, still heady from his raspberryade binge, borrows it to drive his new girlfriend to the cinema in Eastgate. Pike's naive and immature nature ruins the date. On the way back, however, and nine miles from Walmington, it runs out of petrol. It takes Pike all night to push it back. It's time for Wilson to have a serious word"
"with the boy. The Making of Private Pike ""The Making of Private Pike"" is the second episode of the ninth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on 9 October 1977. Finally, Mainwaring has his own staff car. Pike, still heady from his raspberryade binge, borrows it to drive his new girlfriend to the cinema in Eastgate. Pike's naive and immature nature ruins the date. On the way back, however, and nine miles from Walmington, it runs out of petrol. It takes Pike all night to push it back. It's time for Wilson to have"
"cameo appearance in the episode ""My British Buddy"". Walker is the second-youngest member of the platoon, the youngest being Private Pike. A pleasant and amiable (if slightly shifty) personality, Walker is nevertheless a constant thorn in Captain Mainwaring's side, for he doesn't share Mainwaring's idealism, and makes cheeky and witty interruptions during his serious lectures. However, despite this he is good-natured and loyal to his commanding officer and platoon comrades, and is a valuable asset to the platoon, owing to his many ""business"" connections and his ability to mysteriously conjure up almost anything that, due to the War, is rationed"
"uniform to the dry cleaners by mistake. At which point Private Pike comes in with the uniform which he happened to see whilst collecting his own dry cleaning on the way home from the bank. Mainwaring tries his best to avoid wearing it only to be foiled by his well-meaning platoon. Private Frazer says that the Captain deserves a medal ""for sheer cunning"". After the parade, the platoon gather in the pub, along with Square and Hodges. There is jovial humour before an argument breaks out about between Mainwaring and Square. This leads to Mainwaring letting it slip about his"
"prize is the honour of guarding a very important person. But in the end it is the ingenuity of Private Walker which saves the day. It's December 1941 and while Corporal Jones and the rest of the platoon hold a very noisy bayonet practice, Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson are doing paperwork and are discussing the upcoming Ceremonial church parade of all the Home Guard platoons in the area. Mainwaring receives a new officer's cap in the post and hangs it on a nail on the door. Unfortunately, while charging at the bayonet dummy, Private Pike puts his bayonet through"
"boy character Private Pike was partly based upon the teenaged Jimmy Perry, who said, ""She didn't go so far as making me wear a scarf, but she came pretty near"". In an interview with the journalist Neil Clark, Perry said: ""It amazes me. I think it’s because it's the thing that all British people savour: we were on our own at that time and we didn’t turn away. ""Dad’s Army"" reminds us of our finest hour."" Perry and Croft continued their collaboration with ""It Ain't Half Hot Mum"" (1974–81). Inspired by Perry's wartime experience in the Royal Artillery Concert Party,"
"to get his co-operation. Mainwaring debriefs the platoon down in the church crypt to maintain secrecy, but ARP Warden Hodges barges in. Deciding they cannot trust him to keep quiet, they take him with them to the base where the test is taking place - Hodges is highly amused when it turns out that their 'special duties' include peeling potatoes. Private Pike gets bored and sneaks out back to Jones' van with Private Walker. It's revealed that Pike has built a kit radio and brought it along, so they try to tune in to the popular programme ""Hi Gang!"" Unknown"
"Captain Mainwaring Captain George Mainwaring () is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Lowe in the BBC television sitcom ""Dad's Army"". He is the bank manager and Home Guard platoon commander, in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea during the Second World War. He has become widely accepted and regarded as a classic British comic character owing to the popularity of both ""Dad's Army"" and Lowe's portrayal of him. Mainwaring was born in 1885 to Edmund Mainwaring and is a pompous, blustering figure with an overdeveloped sense of his importance, fuelled by his social status in Walmington-on-Sea as the bank"
"critic Derek Malcolm also included the film in his ""Century of Films"", describing it as ""perfectly representing a certain type of bumbling British humour"", despite being directed by a Parisian director. The director Marcel Varnel considered the film as among his best work, and it was described in 2006, by ""The Times"" in its obituary for writer Val Guest, as ""a comic masterpiece of the British cinema"". Jimmy Perry, in his autobiography, wrote that the trio of Captain Mainwaring, Corporal Jones and Private Pike in ""Dad's Army"" was inspired by watching ""Oh, Mr Porter!"" The film was parodied in the"
"HMS Pike (1804) HMS ""Pike"" was a Royal Navy ""Ballahoo""-class schooner of four 12-pounder carronades and a crew of 20. The prime contractor for the vessel was Goodrich & Co., in Bermuda, and she was launched in 1804. She captured one 10-gun enemy vessel before being herself captured, and recaptured. ""Pike"" was commissioned in Jamaica in June 1804 under Lieutenant John Nichols. Lieutenant Duncan Macdonald replaced him in October. In 1806 Lieutenant C. Spence took command, and then Lieutenant John Otley replaced him in August. On 25 August Rear-Admiral Dacres formed a small squadron under the command of Captain George"
"Mainwaring says they must be well up-stream by now. Pike is ill, and wants a drink; Walker scoops some water with his forage cap and gives it to Pike, who promptly spits it out because it's salty. They're in the middle of the English Channel. Frazer refuses to help, still stung after being spurned by Mainwaring, so the men have to come up with their own ideas, with little success. Mainwaring is proud of the men's loyalty, and Frazer, realising his stupidity, apologises to Mainwaring, and he accepts his apology. Mainwaring asks him where the North is, but Frazer doesn't"
"""Favourite"" was at the Îles de Los, searching for a privateer at the behest of Captain Keith Maxwell of ""Arab"". Having received intelligence there that the privateer was at the Pongo River, to the south, Davie sailed there. Near there he spotted two vessels, which the pilot believed were the privateer's prizes. Still it took three days during which the ship's crew had to man the sweeps and boats to tow her through water that was no more than three fathoms deep to reach entrance of the river. Once there, on 28 December ""Favourite"" sighted the privateer sailing out and"
"information on Royal Navy losses for the period, has no mention of this. Notes Citations References HMS Pike (1804) HMS ""Pike"" was a Royal Navy ""Ballahoo""-class schooner of four 12-pounder carronades and a crew of 20. The prime contractor for the vessel was Goodrich & Co., in Bermuda, and she was launched in 1804. She captured one 10-gun enemy vessel before being herself captured, and recaptured. ""Pike"" was commissioned in Jamaica in June 1804 under Lieutenant John Nichols. Lieutenant Duncan Macdonald replaced him in October. In 1806 Lieutenant C. Spence took command, and then Lieutenant John Otley replaced him in"
"in its list of cinema's Top 100 Films. The director Marcel Varnel considered the film as among his best work, and it was described in 2006, by ""The Times"" in its obituary for writer Val Guest, as ""a comic masterpiece of the British cinema"". Jimmy Perry, in his autobiography, wrote that the triumvirate of Captain Mainwaring, Corporal Jones and Private Pike in ""Dad's Army"" was inspired by watching ""Oh, Mr Porter"". Both Moffatt and Marriott were absent from Hay's 1938 film, ""Hey! Hey! USA"" with American comedy actor Edgar Kennedy being cast as Hay's sidekick instead, the film was a"
"Pike has. Wilson tries to wriggle out of it, but Mainwaring goads him by calling him a Peter Pan and reminding him that tongues have been wagging about Pike's parentage (as both Wilson and Mrs. Pike ""arrived here about the same time...both from Weston-super-Mare""). Wilson is frustrated but agrees to talk to Pike. Later, Mainwaring and Jones' section hold a meeting to discuss the final arrangements for the dance. They are in a quandary over music; Jones suggests the Salvation Army, but Walker doesn't agree, and mentions to Mainwaring that Private Hastings can play the piano, and he'll have a"
"on a couple of reconditioned cricket balls, and in typically autocratic fashion, Mainwaring decides that he will captain the side. The next evening, they get the nets out, and have a practice. Pike's bowling efforts are continually interrupted by Mainwaring, who is typically full of advice, although he is highly unsuccessful when he tries to demonstrate: his bowling is repeatedly hit, and after a long lecture on batting technique he is bowled by the first ball he faces from Pike. Godfrey reveals that he used to play cricket for the Civil Service Stores when he was younger. Jones arrive late,"
"up by a fishing boat and taken to Walmington-on-Sea. The Home Guard unit is to be responsible for providing security until the proper military escort can arrive. Mainwaring, excited at finally getting to grips with the enemy, sets off with most of the platoon to collect the prisoners, but not before ordering Sergeant Wilson and Private Pike to prime the platoon's allocation of hand grenades. Pike is naturally excited at throwing around a lot of (unprimed) hand grenades and pretending to be a gangster; Wilson is a lot more cautious, and on discovering a collection of dummy detonators along with"
"work of comedians such as Will Hay, whose film ""Oh, Mr Porter!"" featured a pompous ass, an old man and a young man; together, this gave Perry the ideas for Mainwaring, Godfrey and Pike. Another influence was the Lancastrian comedian Robb Wilton, who portrayed a work-shy husband who joined the Home Guard in numerous comic sketches during WW2. Perry wrote the first script and gave it to David Croft while working as a minor actor in the Croft-produced sitcom ""Hugh and I"", originally intending the role of the spiv, later called Walker, to be his own. Croft was impressed and"
"attempting to escape. ""Favourite"" sailed towards her and when within half-a-gunshot, fired his bow chasers at her. The privateer raked ""Favourite"" with her guns, leading Davies to reply with a broadside. The captain of the privateer ""had the Temerity to continue to engaging us for Twenty Minutes"" before striking. The privateer was ""General Blanchard"", of sixteen guns and a crew of 120 French and Spaniards. The engagement had cost her 11 men killed, including the captain, and 25 wounded. ""Favourite""s only casualty was one man lightly wounded, a passenger, Lieutenant Odhum of the Royal African Corps. While ""Favorite"" was sailing"
"Pike and Walker respectively. Frazer informs Mainwaring that his recruit, Miss Ironside of the Gas Light and Coke Company, won't be available until tomorrow, as will Mrs Pike. As Wilson leaves to dismiss the parade, a lady of about middle-age enters and introduces herself as Mrs Fiona Gray. Mainwaring is immediately smitten with her, and it is clear that his feelings are reciprocated. Mrs Gray is from London, she had to bring her mother down because the bombing was too much for her, and is now living in Wilton Gardens, not far from Mainwaring's house. She remarks that her life"
"hidden amongst the pages. Mainwaring reads it and is instantly disgusted. He convenes an impromptu parade, where he confronts Pike about the letter, and asks Wilson to read it. It says that the Home Guard will only spot any parachutists if they land in a public house, and that their section made sure there were no parachutists in eleven pubs in two hours! Mainwaring makes the platoon promise that he won't hear any more stories about his men drinking. He goes on to say that he has offered to be the host for a sherry party for local civil dignitaries"
"Ian Lavender Arthur Ian Lavender (born 16 February 1946) is an English stage, film and television actor. He is known for his role as Private Pike in the BBC comedy series ""Dad's Army"". He and Frank Williams are the last surviving major cast members. Arthur Ian Lavender was born in Birmingham, England. He attended Bournville Boys Technical School (later Bournville Grammar-Technical School for Boys) where he appeared in many school dramatic productions. From there he went to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, with the assistance of a grant from the City of Birmingham. He quickly made his mark as"
"platoon are deciding what to do to celebrate Private Pike's departure. They decide to have a dinner at the Fish and Chip restaurant. Later on, Mainwaring is having a meeting with the blood donor people who ask him how many pints of blood he and the platoon will be able to donate. He originally says 50, but after learning that the Wardens have also promised 50, he then changes his mind and says 100. Mainwaring soon discovers he has bitten off more than he can chew, as all but two members of the platoon (Mainwaring himself and Pike) are ineligible"
"On Wilson's arrival he surprises Mainwaring and amazes Pike by asserting it is genuine: Wilson's uncle, a peer, has died, thus entitling him to the style ""Honourable"". On being asked where he had been at lunchtime, Mainwaring is furious to hear Wilson has been invited to join the Golf Club, even though he doesn't play golf. Mainwaring has been ""trying to get in for years"". Wilson compounds Mainwaring's rage by announcing that they found him some smoked salmon for lunch, whereas Mainwaring had a ""snoek fishcake at the British Restaurant"". During this discussion Pike has telephoned Mrs Pike, who rushes"
"privateer ships for a total of more than 20 vessels. Leading the fleet was Myngs' flagship HMS ""Centurion"" and the smaller vice-flagship the ""Griffin"". The fleet included already-well-known pirates Mansvelt, Henry Morgan and Abraham Blauvelt. It is likely it included other younger sailors who would later captain pirate vessels of their own and replicate Myngs' tactics. They left Port Royal in January, joined by other smaller vessels as they went but losing contact with the ""Griffin"". Early the following month, the fleet arrived in Campeche Bay. By night, Myngs landed approximately 1000 men a short distance from the city on"
"the note hidden under some other papers, and Square surmises that the reason he hid the letter is because Mainwaring hasn't got any medals, and he didn't want to feel out of place. Square orders Wilson to read the letter to the platoon. Before the next parade the following evening, Mainwaring tells Wilson that he has received a letter from HQ Southern Command saying that the platoon, as the first one formed in the area, will be escorting the Prime Minister in a tour of local coastal defences. Mainwaring is very excited, implying the honour is based on his reputation,"
"Mainwaring is very excited, implying the honour is based on his reputation, but Wilson drolly points out that the letter says it's only because they were the first platoon formed in the area. Mainwaring dismisses Wilson, and whilst fooling around with his pistol, discharges it accidentally at the same time as the secretary is bringing in the coffee, and the tray and its contents ends up going everywhere. At the shooting practice, Corporal Jones, Private Pike, Private Walker and Private Frazer are sent by Regan to man the target equipment. Jones tell Pike to take charge of the flag which"
"the Merchant Navy prior to the Second World War but was also rejected with poor eyesight.) Despite his shortcomings as a leader, Mainwaring considers himself an excellent military tactician. His height and background are frequently mocked as indicating a Napoleon Complex and often referred to by his nemesis, ARP Warden Hodges. In one episode, ""A Soldier's Farewell"", Mainwaring dreams he is Napoleon Bonaparte and is thwarted at the Battle of Waterloo by a Duke of Wellington resembling Wilson. His pomposity and conviction of his prowess mean that Mainwaring yearns to be in control of any situation and he behaves in"
"situation seriously. He would rather play at being a Chicago gangster with the platoon's grenades or Tommy gun. He exasperates Mainwaring but he is humoured by other members, particularly Lance Corporal Jones, Private Godfrey and Private Walker. Pike is one of the most timid members of the group, but was the first in the series to fire on a suspected enemy The Enemy Within the Gates even though it turned out to be a swan. Pike appears sickly and unhealthy, though most of his ""illnesses"" stem from his mother's protectiveness. She usually makes him wears a claret and blue scarf"
"to donate blood due to medical conditions or being over-age. Hodges arrives to rub it in to Mainwaring, but is interrupted by Corporal Jones who states that he has been down to the POW camp and gathered 80 Italian soldiers. Hodges then states that he still wins because he reached his target. Jones then replies that he hasn't, as he has also brought down 17 nuns as well. With Mainwaring, Pike and the Vicar making donations as well, it brings the total for the platoon to 100 pints. Meanwhile, one of the doctors has discovered that Private Pike's blood type"
"this is illustrated in Absent Friends. Jones, Mainwaring, Pike and Wilson are searching for an escaped convict, with the help of the police. Pike's name is a reference to the spear-like weapons issued to the Home Guard in 1942, generating ""an almost universal feeling of anger and disgust from the ranks"". Ian Lavender was invited to choose Pike's scarf from the BBC costume department. As a supporter of Aston Villa, he chose the team's colours. A series of Barclays Bank adverts featured Arthur Lowe as George Mainwaring retiring from his position at the bank, with Pike taking over as manager;"
"Captain Mainwaring and who was an active Conservative. When Dunn was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1975, it was reported that Lowe would only accept a higher-rated honour from the Queen. The playwright Tom Stoppard has been rumoured to have written a play based on this clash of personalities and politics in 1970s Britain. After ""Dad's Army"" ended, Dunn capitalised on his skill in playing elderly character roles by playing the lead character Charlie Quick, in the slapstick children's TV series ""Grandad"", from 1979 to 1984 (he played the caretaker at a village"