They've got form for that, Somewhere. Back in the mists of time, Peggy's mum was also a regular character. (I dimly recall hearing her when I was a child and we always had the omnibus on in the background when we were having breakfast on Sundays.) She was a widow from the East End (BBC tidied up version, that is) and her name was Perkins. I've no idea what her first name was, as shewas always addressed as Mrs Perkins or, more often, Mrs P. According to The Archers Encyclopaedia, the SWs at one point (I think this was the 50s or 60s) had the bright idea of getting her to marry again. However, it seems it must have been unthinkable for her to be anything other than Mrs P, so her second husband was also called Perkins.
Actually, having got TAE and The Book of The Archers off the shelf, I can add to that, and the bit about the big houses of Ambridge.
- Mrs P was called Polly Perkins. (Odd that they decided to call Sid Perks' first wife Polly Perks, but I suppose there wasn't much chance of confusion given that nobody ever called Mrs P Polly.) She didn't die until 1991, which is why I remember her so vividly, as I started listening properly about 10 years before that.
- Houses: these seem to spring into existence on the whim of the SWs, and when their owners move on the house often seems to become invisible again. I can only assume that in the old days before the rich had to pay tax Ambridge was like an Agatha Christie village, full of wealthy people in big houses.
(a) Dower House - home to Ralph and Lilian Bellamy in the 70s before they went into tax exile on Guernsey. Assorted tenants followed. When Lilian sold the estate, Cameron Fraser bought the Dower House. Guy Pemberton owned it next.
(b) Ambridge Hall - used to be the doctor's house in Victorian times. 'Aunt Laura' Archer (Dan's sister-in-law) lived there in the 70s with her friend, Colonel Danby (played by Ballard Berkeley who was the Major in Fawlty Towers). He should have inherited it, but there was an irregularity with the will. Now belongs to the Snells.
(c) Arkwright Hall - 17th century building. Now owned by the Landmark Trust. Has been used as a community centre and field studies centre. In recent years, hardly mentioned at all. No idea who originally lived there.
(d) Manor Court - 18th century house formerly inhabited by John and Carol Tregorran, who were central characters. Jennifer had, or possibly came close to having, an affair with John. Since they left, I don't think it's ever been mentioned. This is odd as it appears to be in the centre of the village and must have had huge grounds. There was a vineyard there.
(e) Manor House - ancestral home of the Lawson-Hopes, squires of Ambridge. TAE says it is well outside Ambridge. Sold by the family in 1955 when they left Ambridge. Carol Tregorran lived there during her first marriage. Nobody ever mentions the house now.
(f) Grey Gables - 19th century building. Run as a country club since the 1940s at least. Don't know what it was originally.
(g) Lower Loxley (Hall) - never mentioned until Nigel Pargetter arrived as a character. Of course, it isn't in Ambridge itself. It's a few miles away on the outskirts of Loxley Barratt, where the school is.
(h) Vicarage. There's an old Vicarage, long ago sold off (owners are never mentioned). Then there's a 4-bedroom house/bungalow built in its grounds to replace it. This became the doctor's surgery in Richard Locke's day. It must be an odd house as in Gerry Buckle's time as vicar it had a first floor but later it didn't. I can't remember if this is the current vicarage or not.