Percy Merriman | |
Birth Date: | 11 June 1882 |
Death Date: | 1966 |
Nationality: | English |
Occupation: | Musician, songwriter |
Notable Works: | Old Comrades Re-Union |
Children: | Eric Merriman |
Percival Harry Merriman (11 June 1882[1] – 1966) was an English musician and songwriter.
During World War I, he served in the 60th Division, Civil Service Rifles. While convalescing, in 1917, he became a member of The Roosters Concert Party,[2] named after Captain G U B Roose, the Commandant of their base in Salonika, Summerhill Camp.[3] They turned professional, made their first radio broadcast in 1923, and operated for another two decades. For them, he wrote sketches and songs, the latter including "Old Comrades Re-Union" (1930).[4]
He appeared as a castaway on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 17 August 1964.[5]
His son Eric Merriman was a comedy scriptwriter, writing Beyond Our Ken for Kenneth Horne and Kenneth Williams.