Percy Merriman

Percival Harry Merriman (11 June 1882[1] – 1966) was an English musician and songwriter.

During World War I, he served in the 60th Division, Civil Service Rifles. While convalescing, in 1917, he became a member of The Roosters Concert Party,[2] named after Captain G U B Roose, the Commandant of their base in Salonika, Summerhill Camp.[3] They turned professional, made their first radio broadcast in 1923, and operated for another two decades. For them, he wrote sketches and songs, the latter including "Old Comrades Re-Union" (1930).[4]

He appeared as a "castaway" on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 17 August 1964.[5]

His son Eric Merriman was a comedy scriptwriter, writing Beyond Our Ken for Kenneth Horne and Kenneth Williams.

References

  1. ↑ 1939 England and Wales Register
  2. ↑ Knight, Jill (2005). The Civil Service Rifles in the Great War: 'all Bloody Gentlemen'. Leo Cooper Ltd. ISBN 978-1844152537.
  3. ↑ "Roosters". IPS-Compendium. Institute of Professional Sound. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "78 RPM - The Roosters Concert Party - Old Comrades Re-Union - Part 1 / Old Comrades Re-Union - Part 2 - Regal - UK - MR 173". Retrieved 28 July 2014. (note record's label)
  5. ↑ "Desert Island Discs - Castaway : Percy Merriman". BBC Online. BBC. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
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