Actor Johnny Briggs, who played Mike Baldwin, the lingerie business tycoon in Coronation Street, for some 30 years, was one of the longest-serving and most identifiable roles in the popular soap.

But few people know that before his time on the screen, he was part of the now-defunct High Wycombe Repertory Company.

Mr Briggs was born on September 5, 1935 in Battersea, London and won a scholarship to the Italia Conti Stage Academy aged just 12.

That year he made his first professional appearance as a boy soprano with the Italian Opera Company in London.

The following year he appeared in the hit film Quartet and made several stage appearances before becoming a stage hand at the Windmill Theatre.

He did his National Service in Germany with the Royal Tank Regiment and joined the High Wycombe Repertory Company afterwards.

By 1960 he had become a TV and stage regular, with parts in The Avengers, The Planemakers and Dangerman.

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He also appeared, during this period, as a lorry driver in Coronation Street and as a taxi boss in Crossroads.

Bucks Free Press: Johnny Briggs (left) pictured with singing legend Englebert Humperdinck on the set of Coronation Street. Picture: Phil Noble/PA Johnny Briggs (left) pictured with singing legend Englebert Humperdinck on the set of Coronation Street. Picture: Phil Noble/PA

Briggs subsequently appeared in scores of films, alongside such names as Norman Wisdom, Dirk Bogarde, Tommy Steele, Benny Hill and Dick Emery.

He made his Coronation Street debut as Mike Baldwin in 1976 and remained until 2006 in the role which defined his professional career.

Mr Briggs died on Sunday aged 85 after a long illness, his family said.

The idea for a repertory theatre in High Wycombe came about during World War II by four servicemen.

The theatre, in Frogmoor, was named the High Wycombe Repertory Theatre and opened on December 16, 1945 – an event attended by star of stage and screen, Hugh Williams.

Bucks Free Press: A view of the former Intimate Theatre, after its closure and about the time of its sale. Frogmoor/Temple End, late 1959. Picture: swop.org.ukA view of the former Intimate Theatre, after its closure and about the time of its sale. Frogmoor/Temple End, late 1959. Picture: swop.org.uk

The company was later re-formed as the High Wycombe Repertory Players Ltd and, in 1949, appeal was put out for help with publicity after it experienced difficulties with attendances.

In 1952, the theatre was renamed the Tower Theatre and the company, the High Wycombe Repertory Company and in 1953, an urgent appeal was put out for 2,000 people “to keep the live theatre open in High Wycombe”.

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The appeal added: “Without your support we cannot continue.”

The theatre remained open but was taken over in the same year by Quality Plays Bedford manager George Radford.

The Bucks Free Press then reported in 1954 that the Repertory Theatre would reopen on February 8 under new management.

Bucks Free Press: PICTURED: View of the entrance to the Intimate TheatrePICTURED: View of the entrance to the Intimate Theatre

In early 1955, the theatre was renamed again to the Intimate Theatre and, in 1957, manager Neil Gibson announced he had decided to close the theatre for the summer months due to a “drop in attendances since petrol rationing commenced”.

The theatre sadly closed in November 1959 due to heavy financial losses, after seeing more than 400 plays and pantomimes grace its stage over the years.

Theatre history courtesy Mike Dewey for www.highwycombesociety.org.uk.