Great Escape actor and Holyport resident Tom Adams dies following battle with cancer

A veteran 'legend' of an actor who made his big-screen debut in The Great Escape has died aged 76.

Tom Adams, who lived in Moneyrow Green, was cast in the classic prisoner-of-war film alongside Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and James Garner in 1963, after working as an English and drama teacher in his native Poplar.

In the film Tom played Dai 'Diversions' Nimmo, an RAF officer in charge of using diversions to confuse German guards so the Allied prisoners could make a break for it.

Tom died on Thursday, December 11 in Wexham Park Hospital following a battle with cancer.

Friend Kate Braxton, who works for event planners Jameroo in Holyport Street, described the actor as 'handsome to the end'.

She added: "For anyone who knew him, his face, voice and presence will be sorely missed."

After his big Great Escape break Tom took small-screen lead roles. He played in Dr Guy Wallman in General Hospital, Sir Daniel Fogarty in The Onedin Line and Guy Marshall in Emergency Ward 10.

He also had an on-and-off role in Emmerdale for four years, and featured in Doctor Who.

Known for his distinguished tones, keen golfer Tom became in-demand as a voiceover artist.

He was the long-running 'voice' of digital channel E4 and starred in adverts for Aero, DFS furniture and Stannah Stair Lifts.

Kate added: "Ah, the chocolate of his voice sliding down the stairs. The man was a legend."

In 1996 Tom, a member at Maidenhead Golf Club, wrote a collection of short stories about the sport called 'Shakespeare was a golfer'.

His agent Emma Harvey said: "A true gentleman and a class act, his personality was as big and warm as his wonderful voice. We'll miss him very much."