Doctor Who Appreciation Society Honors Jon Pertwee with Blue Plaque

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society dedicated a Blue Plaque to Jon Pertwee at the New Wimbledon Theatre in South London.

Earlier today, we posted an article discussing the Doctor’s reaction to the plaque in the pilot episode of Class, ‘For Tonight We Might Die.’ Speaking of plaques, there is another one which has recently come up in the news surrounding Doctor Who. Rather than being one of rememberance of those who have died or gone missing, however, the one that we will be discussing in this article is in recognition of the work of Jon Pertwee. (Though he is technically no longer living, this is not why he received the plaque.)

On Sunday, October 23rd at the New Wimbledon Theatre in South London, the Doctor Who Appreciation Society dedicated a Blue Plaque to Pertwee. As well as being the Third Doctor on the show, he was also the organization’s first Honorary President. Hosting the event was Sixth Doctor and current Honorary President, Colin Baker. Jon Pertwee’s widow, Ingeborg and his daughter Dariel, were the guests of honor and unveiled the plaque. It reads,

"Jon Pertwee1919-1996Actor, Entertainer & Time Lord worked here"

His son, Sean, was unable to attend due to his filming schedule for Gotham. Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi was also unable to attend, but a touching tribute from him was read by Baker. There were a plethora of Doctor Who alumni, as well as various other friends and colleagues of Pertwee’s, who were in attendance. They include Katy Manning, who played the Third Doctor’s companion, Jo Grant; John Levene who played Sergeant John Benton; and Richard Franklin who played Captain Mike Yates.

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Afterward at the theatre’s mini-convention, the Season Eight story ‘The Claws of Axos‘ was screened. The serial is from the middle of Pertwee’s second season on the program, and co-stars Manning, Levene, and Franklin, as well as Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Roger Delgado as the Master.

The New Wimbledon Theatre was home to the premiere of the 1989 Doctor Who play The Ultimate Adventure, which was one of Pertwee’s many productions at the venue.

English Heritage has been awarding Blue Plaques to significant historical figures posthumously for one hundred and fifty years. Also this year, the DWAS is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

(Article continues below the related and next post links.)

Next: Steven Moffat and Peter Capaldi Discuss the Origin of the Name “Doctor Mysterio”

For more information on and pictures of the event, go to Radio Times and Doctor Who News.

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