June Spencer

Background

She was born in Nottingham, England.

Career

After leaving school she joined an amateur dramatic society and gained a London Guildhall School of Music and Drama certificate. Two years after the serial started, she left the cast to look after her family, and the role of Peggy was taken over by Thelma Rogers. Spencer later returned to the series playing Rita Flynn, a role she had originally played in tandem with that of Peggy.

In 1971, Rogers left to return to the stage, and Spencer returned to the role of Peggy.

She was the guest on Desert Island Discs on 28 February 2010. Spencer spoke about the long running Archers storyline on her husband"s Alzheimer"s disease, and about her real life husband Roger who suffered from the disease.

She has also appeared on television on Songs of Praise and in the drama Doctors.

Achievements

• On 12 July 2012 Spencer was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Nottingham as a Doctor of Letters for her services to broadcasting. She was given a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2014 British Broadcasting Corporation Audio Drama Awards.

Membership

She has played the role of Peggy Woolley (née Perkins, formerly Archer) over a period of over 60 years starting with the pilot episode in 1950 and is the only remaining member of the original cast.