Early and Personal Life
Pertwee was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. His mother was Brazilian and his English father, James Francis Carter Pertwee, travelled the country as a salesman until he became ill and died in 1938, when Bill Pertwee was 12. The family moved home many times during Pertwee's childhood and he lived in Hereford, Glasbury, Colnbrook, Newbury, Erith, Belvedere, Blackheath, Storrington, Westcliff-on-Sea, Wilmington and Worthing. His education was disrupted by the moves and he attended many schools including an independent convent school, a small independent school, followed by Frensham Heights School in Surrey, Dartford Technical College and Southend College.
Pertwee's brother James Raymond "Jiggy" Pertwee was an RAF Whitley Bomber pilot who was killed in a crash on a hillside close to a disused quarry above Bank Foot, Ingleby Greenhow, following a leaflet drop over Dortmund, Germany in June 1941. Bill Pertwee left school during the Second World War and worked for a company that made parts for Spitfire cannons. He was declared unfit for RAF service as he was on medication following a swimming accident, but was a member of the Air Training Corps (UK Air Cadets). He later worked as an accounts clerk at the Stock Exchange and as a salesman for the clothing retailer Burberry in London.
Pertwee has a son, Jonathan James Pertwee (b. 1966), who has been in various programmes. He is godfather to one of the sons of Dad's Army co-star Ian Lavender. Following the death of his wife, he now lives in Topsham, Devon, England. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for his services to charity. He is vice-president of the "Railway Ramblers".
He is a distant cousin of former Doctor Who actor Jon Pertwee, being the second cousin of Jon Pertwee's father, screenwriter and actor Roland Pertwee.
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