My name is Mariska Schrieken, I'm Dutch and live in a small village in the northwest of the Netherlands.
Dad's Army aired in the Netherlands one or two years after the series premiered in the UK. It ran under the somewhat silly translated Dutch name "Daar Komen De Schutters"
I remember my parents watching the series; it was very popular in "Nederland".
Many, many years later, our nostalgic channel did a rerun of the series and from that moment on, I was hooked, like so many. Not just because the series is so brilliantly written and the cast is so good, but also because of that one platoon member who caught my attention every time he appeared on the screen. Private Walker, played by Londoner James Beck.
I started searching for personal stories of the cast and expected to learn that Jimmy Beck was happily retired (or passed away by that time as it was 2021) after a long career on TV and theatre. When I found out he passed away at just 44 years old in 1973, so young and in the prime of his life, I was quite shocked.
Upon further research, I was disappointed to find out hardly a trace was left about him; on the Internet or anywhere for that matter.
This only made me more determined. I felt at least he deserved some sort of tribute, as he fought so hard for recognition all his life, but never lived to see the huge fame Dad's Army brought to the cast, next to the unfulfilled promise of a wonderful career, that undoubtedly was waiting for him.
In my search, I knocked on many doors; some remained closed, others opened.
The biggest setback by far is the time that has passed, and I have to make do with the information I retrieved; personal recollections, but also newspaper archives have proven to be extremely helpful.
I am incredibly grateful for the help and support I received and still do, as I am continuing to put together the life and times of a wonderful, but slightly forgotten man.
I hope this website will encourage people to share any information they might have on Jimmy Beck. I look forward to your email!
Mariska
