Retrospective: Francis Wallis
Retrospective: Francis Wallis This is one of three articles looking back at the lives and careers of the young co-stars of Granada Television’s iconic adaptation of The Owl Service which first aired in 1969-70. All three – Francis Wallis, Michael Holden and Gillian Hills – had disappeared from the acting profession by the time The Owl Service was repeated in colour in 1978. This is Francis’s story. Official records show that Francis John Wallis was born on 13 December 1944 in Ilford, Essex. He was named after his father F. J. Wallis, founder of the eponymous supermarket chain. F. J. senior was a colourful character – he flew his own private helicopter to visit his company’s stores, which led to Tonbridge Council banning him from landing it on the town’s Angel Ground ( Kent & Sussex Courier , 11 December 1970). The businessman was also a keen tennis player, as the Western Daily Press reported (15 April 1964): Francis Wallis, owner of a supermarket chain, performed one of his cust...