William Simons

Clifford William Cumberbatch Simons (17 November 1940 – 21 June 2019) was a Welsh actor best known for his role as PC Alf Ventress in Heartbeat, a role he played for 18 years, from 1992 to 2010.

Simons was born on 17 November 1940 in Swansea where his father was stationed in the Second World War and he grew up in South Wales until the family moved to North London. He started acting as a child, appearing in the films No Place for Jennifer (1950), Where No Vultures Fly (1951) and West of Zanzibar (1954). He then suffered from severe acne, which caused him to prefer working backstage as a stage manager for four years before deciding to become an adult actor. Later in life, he would become a patron of the charity Changing Faces, which supports people with facial deformities.

He played PC Ventress for the entire 18-year run of Heartbeat. Although playing a heavy smoker, Simons was a non-smoker in real life and was given herbal cigarettes to play the part. The character is a policeman that lacks in the physical side but makes up for that with his ‘local knowledge’. Ventress is the longest serving officer for much of the drama and occasionally in a role as acting sergeant when Blaketon, Craddock and Merton are absent. In later series of the drama, Ventress is forced to retire from the force but continues as a civilian member of the team and also helps Oscar Blaketon (Derek Fowlds) in a private investigatory role. Simons was only absent from 4 episodes of Heartbeat throughout his entire stint playing constable Alf Ventress; during series 3.

Other series regular roles in television included the political dissident Quarmby in the 1971 TV series The Guardians, Martin O'Connor QC in Crown Court (1973-83), Constable Thackeray in Cribb (1979-81), and Inspector "Brer" Fox in The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries (1990-94).

Simons also made guest appearances in Doctor Who: The Sun Makers, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Francis Storm Investigates, Coronation Street, The Sweeney, Minder as 'Pongo' Harris, Dempsey & Makepeace, Give Us a Break, The Darling Buds of May, Wish Me Luck, Bergerac, Casualty, The Bill, Lovejoy, Enemy at the Door and Rumpole of the Bailey.