FOR many avid television viewers, Frank Finlay was ever the lecherous star of Bouquet of Barbed Wire, the must-see controversial TV series of the mid-1970s which drew record audiences of 24 million in its day.

With his earlier appearance in the title role of Dennis Potter’s Casanova in 1971, Frank Finlay, who has died at his Surrey home at the age of 89, was considered to be something of a sex symbol. He even attracted the zeal of ardent clean-up TV campaigner, Mary Whitehouse.

A distinguished Oscar-nominated actor, his work was even more compelling for those of us living in Herefordshire. For more than 40 years, sanctuary from the hurly burly of fame for Frank Finlay and his family was a cottage on Dorstone Hill.

Though shrinking from his undoubted fame here in the county, he is remembered with fondness at Bredwardine, where he lived with his wife, Doreen, their daughter Cathy, and two sons, Stephen and Daniel.

Often spotted about the town in Hay-on-Wye, or turning heads on the platform at Hereford railway station dressed in black with his long, silvery hair, the actor could sometimes be considered aloof.

County historian Roger Pye recalled that he sought out a Kington building firm, Powells, to renovate his cottage. “Though he was considered aloof - he would walk down the street in Hay with his nose in the air – he became friends with the Powell family and often invited them for dinner,” he said.

Down the road, the actor enjoyed dropping in at his local, the Red Lion Hotel in Bredwardine, with his family. Landlord, Michael Taylor remembered him as a friendly, affable man.

“He looked upon Bredwardine as his private getaway,” said Mr Taylor. “The Red Lion was his local pub and he would come here with his wife and their family.”

He continued: “They would come in for meals and he was always jovial.”

Sadly, his wife died in 2005 and their younger son predeceased him too. Mr Taylor said it had been “a while” since he had seen the actor. “I think he had probably lost heart around here because of that,” he said.

Fellow actor John Challis, who also lives in Herefordshire, told the Hereford Times that Frank Finlay, with his “vulpine looks”, was an inspirational actor. Fondly recalled as Boycie in Only Fools and Horses, John Challis recalled “happy times” touring with Frank Finlay in playwright Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor.

“It was a great thrill to be in this show with him,” he said. He saw his “extraordinary” performance as Iago in Laurence Olivier’s Othello in 1964, the film version winning him Academy Award, Golden Globe and Bafta nominations.

“It was an extraordinary performance,” he said. “I remember him for his generosity and humour; he was a great inspiration.”

While happy to be acknowledged in the street as ‘Boycie’, John Challis understood Frank Finlay’s desire for privacy.

“It’s very much up to the individual,” he said. “There are times when you might wish you were anonymous, but I find it gives pleasure to people every day of my life.”

Frank Finlay was born in Lancashire, and during jobs as a butcher’s boy and grocer’s assistant, pursued his passion for amateur dramatics, eventually gaining a scholarship to RADA.

This was at a time when other working class actors such as Albert Finney and Alan Bates were starting to make an impact in the theatre. Frank Finlay told how efforts were made to lose their North Country accents, only to find soon after that actors required coaching in order to acquire regional voices.

Widely respected in his profession, Frank Finlay’s family said he was “renowned for his kindness and generosity”. Paying tribute, they said: “Goodbye to a wonderful father, loving grandfather and a damn fine actor”.