NORMA RONALD
Miss Lingard, the indispensable secretary of John Wilder in “The Plane Makers” and “The Power Game” was played by Norma Ronald.
Unlike Miss Lingard, who didn't know the difference between Yorkshire and Lancashire and had never been North of Birmingham, Norma Ronald was born in Northumberland in 1937. She had been an actress since the age of 15, working with the Leatherhead Repertory Company and then Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop where she met her first husband David Butler.
In 1962 she established the role of gormless teenage secretary Mildred Murfin in the BBC radio comedy series, 'The Men From The Ministry'. The series, which ran from 1962 to 1977 starred Richard Murdoch, Wilfred Hyde White and later Deryck Guyler as incompetent Whitehall civil servants.
In September 1963 she joined “The Plane Makers” as Kay Lingard, the personal secretary of John Wilder. Although there were rumours in her second episode, “Don’t Stick Your Head Out” that Lingard’s relationship with Wilder was slightly too personal, the rumours were proved to be wide of the mark. Lingard did, however, prove to be a most effective personal assistant, anticipating Wilder’s demands and acting as gate-keeper. Despite being firm with interlopers, she could also be warm and sympathetic. It’s Lingard who points out to Arthur Sugden in “A Condition of Sale” that his own secretary Margie is too ill to work and sends her home. She also tries to soften the blow to the distressed Philip Hammond, waiting hopelessly for an audience with Wilder in “How Do You Vote”. But “A Condition of Sale” also shows Miss Lingard is coolly aware of what it takes to get on in the business world, and firmly resourceful in threatening situations. Although some episodes could relegate Miss Lingard to a virtual voice-over, announcing visitors over the tannoy, Norma Ronald was always effective.
In February 1965, following the end of “The Plane Makers”, Norma Ronald joined Frank Berry as host of “Night Spot”, a late night variety series from Rediffusion set in a real night club. In her personal life Norma Ronald divorced in1966, and the same year married Edward Judd (star of The Day The Earth Caught Fire) whose first wife, actress Gene Anderson had died in 1965.
Not surprisingly, when Sir John Wilder left the aircraft industry for Bligh Construction in “The Power Game”, Miss Lingard followed him. Once again she showed herself Wilder’s firm ally, backing him up in his fight back against a conspiracy in ”Confound Their Politics” and later advising Wilder on his personal care in “Tax Return” when his wife leaves him. This episode also shows the personal sacrifices Lingard makes for her employer when she delays a date to work late for him.
Norma Ronald continued to work on radio, appearing in “The Mike and Bernie Winters Show”. She also appeared in Doctor in the House , with Richard Briars as Simon Sparrow in July and August 1968. Norma played Vera the Welsh girlfriend of Sparrow's flatmate as well as sundry female students. This may have been instrumental in Kay Lingard not appearing in the final series of “The Power Game”, which commenced production in August 1968.
However, the role of Miss Lingard did result in Gerry Anderson, a fan of The Power Game, casting Norma Ronald as Pam Kirby, secretary to Wymark's Jason Webb in the movie 'Doppelganger'. She then continued into Anderson's TV series 'UFO' as Miss Ealand, secretary to Ed Straker ( You can read more about Doppelganger and UFO starting here ).
Norma Ronald had bleached her hair blonde for Doppelganger, and retained this look for UFO. Miss Ealand had a slightly less formal manner but just as Kay Lingard was the keeper of Wilder’s personal secrets, Miss Ealand is the literal gate-keeper of Commander Straker’s secret life, guarding the concealed entrance to SHADO headquarters. In “Exposed” the significance of Straker deciding to admit Paul Foster to SHADO is underlined when Straker tells Miss Ealand to let Foster through the sliding doors into Straker’s office. She pauses, looking questioningly at Straker as if she’s misheard him, forcing Straker to reassure her, “It’s alright Miss Ealand.”
Although Norma Ronald had adopted Edward Judd and Gene Anderson’s daughter, she was pregnant during the making of UFO and missed some episodes such as “The Cat With Ten Lives”. Here she was replaced by Lois Maxwell – Miss Moneypenny from the James Bond films. However, some dialogue with “Miss Holland” (where Straker tells her he’ll wait for Miss Ealand to read a movie script when she returns) suggests that Miss Ealand also helped maintain Straker’s secret identity as a movie boss.
In 1974, Norma Ronald appeared in the BBC Radio 2 series “Husband of the Year”. Organised in co-operation with local newspapers all over Britain, the series was a contest to find the most resourceful, tactful and loving husband of the year. Contestants were grilled by a panel of celebrities and also had to get themselves out of tricky situations in hypothetical scenarios performed by “everybody’s wife, Norma Ronald.”
The show was successful enough to transfer to ITV in 1975. Although host Macdonald Hobley was replaced by Pete Murray, Norma once again appeared as the uber-Wife putting husbands to the test. Norma Ronald was married to actor Edward Judd (The Day The Earth Caught Fire). She continued to appear in radio plays such as Ian Cullen's 'Angel of the Deep' (1976). She was united with “The Plane Makers” James Cameron-Grant – Peter Jeffrey in Wally K Daley's 'What's Stigmata' . Jeffrey also starred as Acting Chief Constable Colonel Manton in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Kingsley Amis’ “The Riverside Villas Murder” (26 June 1976). Norma Ronald starred as Mrs Trevelyan, the seductive neighbour of the teenage narrator. She also provided other vocal performances such as an adaptation of Spike Milligan’s “Puckoon” for Columbia Records in 1980. Her last TV role was as the voice of the alien parent in 'Chocky's Challenge'(1986). Sadly, Norma Ronald died in 1993.