The last remaining original cast member of The Archers has been presented with an award by her high school in Nottingham after she retired from the BBC Radio 4 drama at the age of 103. June Spencer, who played Peggy Woolley (Archer), was bestowed the award by Nottingham Girls' High School due to her remarkable achievements and the longevity of her services to broadcasting.
June played Peggy for more than seven decades but said it was "high-time" she retired. She began working for the BBC in 1943 as part of Children’s Hour and had been a key character in The Archers since its very first episode in 1950.
Her 65 years in the role makes her the second longest-serving actor in a soap opera worldwide. The Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) honoured June with an Exceptional Contribution award, with June having studied at the Nottingham Girls' High School, in Arboretum Street, when she was younger.
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The school says she completed her education at Nottingham Girls' High School in 1934, and left at the age of 15 to pursue a career in the arts. Her dream of becoming an actress led to her leaving school early, and headteacher Miss Phillips denied her request at the time.
When June did eventually leave, however, she remembers standing in the Miss Phillips' office where she exclaimed: “You’ll never make anything of yourself without your certificate." June however went on to become a British broadcasting hero. She was awarded an OBE and CBE for her work.
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, even described her character as a "national treasure". A spokesperson for the school said: "It’s wonderful to see that June has gone on to have such an illustrious career. It’s clear to see that she embodies everything that both the GDST and NGHS stand for.
"She has passion, determination, and a true love of life. She is a trailblazer in the arts and a fabulous role model to our students, showing that age doesn’t define you and that there are no limits to what we can all achieve."
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