Sheila Fearn, who was best-known for playing the sister of Terry Collier (James Bolam) in both The Likely Lads and its sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, was born in Leicester in the East Midlands.

Fearn's earliest acting credit listed on the internet is of playing the role of Elizabeth Bensk in the medical-based TV drama Emergency Ward 10, in 1957.

Sheila played a variety of other roles (including that of Pat in Dixon of Dock Green and Susie in Adam Adamant Lives) before the role of Audrey Collier in the BBC sitcom The Likely Lads came her way in 1964.

Prior to the sequel to The Likely Lads, entitled Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, Fearn appeared in several other film & TV productions. One of her earliest Borehamwood roles was that of playing Jenny in a 1967 episode of The Avengers, which was made at Elstree Studios.

With the two series of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? proving so successful, Sheila joined Rodney Bewes, James Bolam and Brigit Forsyth in a film version, The Likely Lads, which went into production at Elstree Studios in 1975.

Fearn was to return to Borehamwood again in 1980 to play Ann Fourmile in the film version of the Thames TV sitcom, George & Mildred. As with The Likely Lads film, the George & Mildred film was shot at Elstree Studios. I believe that houses used to play the respective houses of the Roper's and the Fourmile's were both situated close to the Shenley Road-based studios.

Sheila then went on to other roles including playing Kevin's mother in the film Time Bandits and one of Timothy Lumsden’s (Ronnie Corbett) girlfriends (yes, he did have them!) in the BBC sitcom Sorry!

Fearn’s last-known role prior to her retirement from acting in 1988 was that of playing Iris Swindley in the children's TV sitcom News At Twelve.

When I worked with one of Sheila's former George & Mildred co-stars, Brian Murphy, in 2007 I asked him if he was still in-touch with the actress. He said that sadly he wasn't and that he really enjoyed working with her on the series and would love to hear from her again.

The only information I personally know of Fearn's whereabouts comes from reading part of a book published on The Likely Lads in the Nineties. Apparently the actress decided to retire to spend more time with her family and that both her and her partner were seriously considering moving the family over to America.

Sheila was also quoted as saying in The Likely Lads book that the only thing that would tempt her out of acting retirement now would be if further episodes of The Likely Lads were made. Sadly, it doesn't look as though this will ever happen despite Rodney Bewes' willingness to take part in such a project.

Sheila Fearn remains a favourite actress of mine (the life-long crush still continues!) and I continue to enjoy watching her various performances on DVD and on satellite TV re-runs. I hope wherever she is she is happy and will one day she will attend a film & TV-related event in this country. I am sure I am not the only person who would like to meet her and hear her speak about her career - so please get in-touch, Sheila, if you ever read these lines!

Ian La Frenais, the co-writer of The Likely Lads, once said of Fearn: "She was sexy and funny and she knew John Lennon...Sheila always found time for everyone, and I now think of her and Audrey with great affection"

You can't get a better tribute than that!