🎭 Hal Dyer – Biography
Hal Dyer (1935–7 December 2011), born Shirley Hazel Dyer, was an English actress whose career included television, film and theatre. She is particularly remembered by On the Buses fans for playing Mary, the new nurse, in the 1971 episode The New Nurse, and Mrs Coombs in the 1973 film Holiday on the Buses.
👶 Early life
- 🎂 Born: 1935
- 📍 Birthplace: Rotherham, Yorkshire, England
- 👩 Birth name: Shirley Hazel Dyer
- 🎭 Profession: Actress
- 🇬🇧 Nationality: British
Dyer worked primarily as a character actress, building a career through television, film and theatre rather than as a major leading star.
💍 Marriage to Michael Robbins
One of the most notable aspects of Hal Dyer's life was her marriage to fellow actor Michael Robbins, best known as Arthur Rudge in On the Buses. 🚌
The couple married in 1960 and remained together until Robbins' death in 1992. They had children.
Their careers became particularly connected with On the Buses, where Robbins was one of the principal stars and Dyer made guest appearances.
🚌 Hal Dyer in On the Buses
👩⚕️ Mary – The New Nurse (1971)
Dyer appeared in Series 5, Episode 8, The New Nurse, broadcast in 1971.
She played Mary, the new nurse whose arrival at the bus depot becomes the focus of the episode.
The episode is particularly interesting for fans because Dyer appeared alongside her husband Michael Robbins, who played Arthur Rudge.
🏖️ Mrs Coombs – Holiday on the Buses (1973)
Dyer's best-known On the Buses appearance came in the third and final film, Holiday on the Buses.
She played Mrs Coombs, appearing alongside the regular cast including:
- 🚌 Reg Varney – Stan Butler
- 👩 Doris Hare – Mabel Butler
- 👨 Michael Robbins – Arthur Rudge
- 👩 Anna Karen – Olive Rudge
- 👮 Stephen Lewis – Blakey
- 🎫 Bob Grant – Jack Harper
- 🎭 Wilfrid Brambell – Bert Thompson
- 👩⚕️ Kate Williams – Red Cross nurse
Dyer's appearance as Mrs Coombs is specifically recorded in the film's cast listings.
🎬 Film career
Dyer had a relatively small but varied film career.
🎞️ Selected film work
- 🎥 1964 – R3
- 🎥 1973 – Holiday on the Buses – Mrs Coombs
- 🎥 1978 – The Stud – Maxine
- 🎥 2007 – Namastey London – Susan's Mom
She therefore remained active on screen over several decades, with Namastey London representing one of her later credited film appearances.
📺 Television career
Dyer was a familiar face in British television comedy and drama.
Some of her television credits include:
📅 Year📺 Programme🎭 Role1960The Strange World of Gurney SladeActor1971On the BusesMary1971Doctor at LargeFirst Nurse1973BowlerCaroline1978Robin's NestPhyllis1978–84RentaghostRose Perkins1979George & MildredMrs Peasley1979GrandadGardener1983ButterfliesJosie1984RentaghostRose Perkins1987Executive StressMrs Clarkson1997Next of KinDeidre
Her Rentaghost appearances as Rose Perkins were particularly extensive, spanning several series.
🎭 Theatre
Away from television and film, Dyer also had a strong connection with theatre. Accounts from people who knew her describe her as someone who loved theatrical work and remained closely connected to the acting community.
She was also remembered warmly by On the Buses fans and attended the 2009 On the Buses book launch at the London Transport Museum, where she signed books and met fans.
❤️ Connection with the On the Buses family
Hal Dyer has a particularly interesting place in On the Buses history because she wasn't simply a guest actress:
Her husband was Michael Robbins – Arthur Rudge. 👨❤️👩
This meant that the series and its films brought the married acting couple together professionally.
Her two most significant On the Buses appearances were:
🚌 1971 – The New Nurse → Mary 👩⚕️
🏖️ 1973 – Holiday on the Buses → Mrs Coombs 👩
🕯️ Later life and death
After a long career in British entertainment, Dyer continued to be remembered by fans of classic British comedy.
She died on 7 December 2011, aged 76, in Redhill, Surrey. Her reported cause of death was a brain haemorrhage.
She had survived her husband Michael Robbins by almost two decades; Robbins died in December 1992.
⭐ Hal Dyer's legacy
Hal Dyer may not have been one of Britain's biggest television stars, but she had a long and interesting career as a character actress.
Her legacy is especially important to On the Buses enthusiasts because she:
🚌 Appeared in the classic ITV sitcom
👩⚕️ Played Mary in The New Nurse
🏖️ Played Mrs Coombs in Holiday on the Buses
❤️ Was married to Michael Robbins (Arthur Rudge)
📺 Appeared in Rentaghost, George & Mildred, Butterflies and many other programmes
🎬 Worked in films including The Stud and Namastey London
🎭 Maintained a connection with theatre throughout her career
🕯️ Remained fondly remembered by On the Buses fans after her death in 2011
For fans of On the Buses, Hal Dyer is therefore an interesting link between the show's television cast, its films, and the real-life world of British theatre and television. 🚌❤️
HAL DYER/SHIRLEY ROBBINS R.I.P.
It is with sadness I report the death of Shirley Robbins wife of the late Michael Robbins
My sincere condolences have ben sent to the family on behalf of myself and the fan club. .
I first meet Hal/Shirley at the ON THE BUUES book launch book. Hal made plenty of time for the fans and was more than happy to sign autographs and pose for photos. Hal seemed a lovely kind person and we spent some time chatting and I also interviewed her for the fan club which will be screened at next years event in memory.
A fine actress who loved theatre she will be sadly missed but not forgotten here at the fan club.
FUNERAL
Wednesday 21st December at 15.00 hours at the Church of St Bernard, Vicarage Road, Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 EZ
Floral tributes may be sent to the undertakers:
Alex Jones 1 East Grinstead Road, Lingfield Surrey RH7 6EP. 01342 832534
The passing of Hal Dyer is in our hearts and pryers, we watched " the
new nurse " and Holiday on the buses
my family and I which to extened our deepest condolence to her family
and friends.
God Bless
Jim Norman and family
Above we see Hal/Shirley with Ronnie Wolfe (co creator and writer of ON THE BUSES) with Rose, Ronnie's wife
Hal signing copies of the ON THE BUSES books for the fans
Hal Dyer at THE ON THE BUSES book launch took place on Saturday the 3rd of October 2009 at the London Transport Museum's Cubic Theatre in Covent Garden, London
MUCH-LOVED Lingfield actress has died suddenly aged 76 from a brain haemorrhage.
Shirley Robbins, or Hal Dyer as she was known in her acting career, had been a resident in the village for 25 years and lived on Felcourt Road.
Shirley was discovered by a close friend lying on the floor in her home and was rushed to East Surrey Hospital, where she later died.
"She was an absolutely fantastic woman with a great sense of humour," said 43-year-old son Ben Robbins.
"She will be missed by everyone, whether she was a friend, mother or grandmother. People will miss her anecdotes and her name-dropping."
After her husband, the actor Michael Robbins, died in 1992 she opened Browsers Coffee shop in East Grinstead Road, an eclectic mix of books, collectibles, theatrical memorabilia, cake and coffee.
Upstairs the mother-of-two managed to erect a small theatre, which seated about 50, and here she produced a diverse mix of readings, plays, concerts, talks, and a Christmas pantomime.
It was also here that she founded The Green Room Theatre Company. With actor David Bromley she worked on the revival of classical theatre and on new projects, often written by herself.
"My mother lived for everything and anything theatre-related – she thrived on it," Ben added.
As an actress, she trained at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, and became a member of Sir Barry Jackson's famous Birmingham Rep, playing many leading roles. More followed with seasons in Chesterfield, Bromley, Salisbury and Windsor.
Her television credits include A Man For All Seasons, Emergency Ward Ten, Crossroads and guest appearances in Butterflies, The Bill and Whose Life Is It Anyway?
For four years she was one of the regulars in the classic BBC children's series Rentaghost playing neighbour Rose Perkins.
Her time in West End theatre included Murder At The Vicarage and Time and The Conways.
"It is such a shock. It was so quick that she passed away," Ben added.
"I think a lot of people would visit her shop to chat to Shirley and hear her endless array of wonderful anecdotes, encompassing her career that was dedicated to the arts for almost 60 years," he said.
She will be missed by members of The Green Room Theatre Company, her close friend Richard, her children Ben Robbins and Sarah Cliffe and four grandchildren Daniel, Max, Lucy and Joe.
Chris D'Avray, chairman of Lingfield Parish Council, said: "She was a very lovely lady who was a very fine actress and will be greatly missed."
Her funeral will take place at St Bernard's Catholic Church in Lingfield on Wednesday, December 21 at 3pm – the same date as her husband's funeral in 1992.
This will be followed by a cremation at Surrey and Sussex Crematorium, in Balcombe Road, Crawley at 4.30pm.
The family have said that all those who knew and loved Shirley are welcome to attend.
Article from newspaper 'THIS IS ESSEX'
Hal was to play the part of the nurse in series 5 of ON THE BUSES in the episode 'THE NEW NURSE'
The 3 images below show Hal/Shrilrey Robbins starring along side her husband Arthur/Michael Robbins.
