The Road to Ambridge

Book excerpt: June Spencer may well be best known as matriarch Peggy Archer (now Woolley), of one of the UK's best known and longest running soap operas, but aged 90 now, she'd seen and done a lot before (and since) joining the Archers 60 years ago. The only original member of the cast still in The Archers, June has worked in showbusiness since the age of 12, when she wrote and produced her own stage shows for her family. She grew up to become an after-dinner entertainer, finally making her way to radio, starring in classics such as Dick Barton and Children's Hour. Born back when milk was collected in a jug from the local store, June takes us back in time as she affectionately recalls the slower pace of childhood, life during the second world war, a that she hardly knew returning from Burma, and later, his decline due to Alzheimer's and the subsequent identical story line with her fictional husband. June also talks about 60 years of life with the Archers, telling all about characters, classic storylines and her own life, from playing Mary Queen of Scots and bringing up children, to meeting the Queen. Where Peggy is stern and doesn't see the funny side of things, June's endearing story is infused with humour and a joy of life.