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Malcolm McFee, an English actor born in the mid-1940s, was best known for his role as "Peter Craven" in the hit TV series Please Sir! (1968) and The Fenn Street Gang (1971). Inspired by the 1967 movie To Sir, with Love (1967), Please Sir! (1968) - which debuted in 1968 - was itself the inspiration for the American series Welcome Back, Kotter (1975). Set in a south London secondary school called "The Fenn Street School", the situation comedy assayed the travails of a naive school teacher played by John Alderton and his unruly class of students. McFee, who was in his early 20s, played one of the mob of rowdy adolescent boys and girls (all the actors being significantly older than the ages of the characters they were portraying). McFee also was in the 1971 movie of the same name, Please Sir! (1971).

He appeared in the anti-war satirical musical Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), the first movie directed by Richard Attenborough, as one of three boys from a family that go off to World War One to fight for King and Country. McFee is the last of the three brothers to be killed, near the end of the war (and movie).

After series star John Alderton left the show in 1971, the series was renamed The Fenn Street Gang (1971) and focused on the kids after they had left school. The Fenn Street Gang (1971) lasted until 1973, dying a slow death as the chemistry of the original had been lost. The shows were popular, consistently ranking in the top five during their entire runs.

McFee's career went in the doldrums after The Fenn Street Gang (1971). He made guest appearances on other TV shows and turned to the stage, where he made a career as an actor and director. As a theater director, he worked in small theaters in Greater London and the provinces. He died suddenly in November 2001 at his home in Braintree, Essex, three weeks before he was scheduled to appear as the "Dame" in the pantomime of "Beauty and the Beast" at the Chesham-based Elgiva Theatre company. He had been suffering from cancer.

Arthur Howell was born on 5 January 1920 in Wandsworth, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Krull (1983) and An American Werewolf in London (1981). He was married to June Palmer. He died in August 2003 in Braintree, Essex, England, UK.

Emma Priest was born in 1972 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Strange But True? (1993), No Job for a Lady (1990) and The Return of Shelley (1988). She died on 31 March 2002 in Great Notley, Braintree, Essex, England, UK.

Fred Majdalany was born on 22 May 1913 in Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK. Fred was a writer, known for A Word in Your Eye (1947) and Epic Battles (1958). Fred was married to Sheila Howarth. Fred died on 15 November 1967 in Braintree, Essex, England, UK.

Pearl Hay was born on 12 March 1921 in Hackney, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Stepping Stones (1931), Cock o' the North (1935) and The Warning (1928). She died on 29 December 2013 in Braintree, Essex, England, UK.

Howard Devonshire was born on 20 January 1909 in Chiswick, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Libel! (1938) and Lady Precious Stream (1938). He died in 2001 in Braintree, Essex, England, UK.

Frederick Woodhouse was born on 14 May 1892 in Clapham, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Padlock (1938). He died on 20 December 1966 in Braintree, Essex, England, UK.

Christine Nash was born on 29 January 1895 in Harrow, Middlesex, England, UK. She was married to John Nash. She died on 8 November 1976 in Braintree, Essex, England, UK.