"We have no rates in Cherry Valley. No rates ….only mice" - at least that's according to the Cherry Valley lady. She, along with Derek the Window Cleaner and Orange Lil, were as well known to a generation of Ulster people as the man who created them. For the best part of three decades, comic actor James Young made people laugh, even at their own bigotry and intolerance, during some of the most turbulent days in Northern Ireland's history. One of his favourite catch-phrases was "Do us a favour, will yez - stop yer fighten'!"
Born in Ballymoney in 1918, just before his family moved to Belfast, his talent for humour was obvious from an early age. "For Heaven's sake", Mrs Young repeatedly told her small son, "stop impersonating the visitors. Because after you do, I find it impossible to take them seriously."
Character actor, comedian and master of the moralistic monologue - he was always topical with his jokes. Like the time there was a bit of controversy over Sunday swings. "If you had to bale out of a plane over Belfast on a Sunday, sure they wouldn't let you open your parachute", he quipped.
According to Young, people recognised themselves, or people they knew, in the characters he played. From one of his many TV programmes, here's a well-known clip of the militant union "Strike-Starter". Click here to watch...
Where you ever lucky enough to see one of his shows in the Group Theatre in Belfast? Was Derek one of your favourite characters in the BBC radio series "The McCooeys"? Send "Sense of Place" your stories and memories of James Young.
Your Responses
Cinders remembers how in the 1950s he had a summer revue in the British Legion Hall in Bangor. Read her memories.
"His Cherry Valley lady was inspired and timeless..... Click on 'Cherry Valley' to read full text of message.
"A tribute to James Young is long overdue....."
"While it is very nice of the BBC to at last acknowledge the existence of James Young ....."
"I never saw him on stage but having an old LP ....."
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