Linda Regan, the actress known for her role in Hi-De-Hi, has spoken candidly about the pain of losing her close friend Norman Eshley, who died at the age of 80 on August 2. Eshley, best known for playing Jeffrey Fourmile in the sitcom George and Mildred, passed away at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital with his wife by his side after a battle with cancer.
Regan, who was married to Eshley's co-star Brian Murphy, described her devastation at losing both men within the same year. Murphy died six months earlier at the age of 92. "I can't bear it. I just can't believe that they've both gone in the same year," she said tearfully. "Norman did the eulogy at Brian's funeral and he was in great form, he seemed to be in great form."
The two couples, including Eshley's wife Rachel, were extremely close, regularly meeting up and speaking on the phone. Regan recalled how Brian and Norman would talk for hours, and the four of them would attend film festivals and host George and Mildred evenings. "Together Brian and Norman brought so much laughter to the world and they gave the world a legacy of laughter that will live on," she said.
Reflecting on her final moments with her husband, Regan said she was singing to him as he passed. "He was desperately trying to say I love you and I told him it's okay to just rest now," she revealed. "My memories of Brian are beautiful and that's all I've got to hang on to and I will hang on to that for the rest of my life."
Following Eshley's death, Regan paid tribute on social media, writing: "RIP my dear dear friend. Brian will be there, you will have a friend. I will miss your friendship so very much but I promise to look after Rachel for you." She expressed hope that the two actors have found each other in heaven and that their legacy of laughter continues to bring joy to future generations.
