(1958) and Through the Looking-Glass, both directed by Douglas Cleverdon and both starring Jane Asher in the title role. For the same company he also recorded his impersonation of Toad in Wind in the Willows (1960) with Richard Goolden as Mole. Late in life he found new fame as Colonel Freddy Danby in the BBC radio serial The Archers. He was still recording episodes of The Archers at the time of his death. He collapsed suddenly at Finchley Road tube station, London, on 21 August 1980, and was declared dead in the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead. His wife had predeceased him; he was buried near her at Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire, on 28 August. Churchill impersonation A recurring rumour holds that, because the House of Commons was not set up for location recording at that time, some of Winston Churchill's most famous speeches to Parliament during the Second World War were subsequently recorded for radio broadcast by Shelley, impersonating Churchill. The rumour has been promoted by David Irving, to support his unflattering view of Churchill. It is difficult to prove or disprove Irving's claims. Analysis of the voice patterns in 20 of Churchill's recorded speeches show that three made in May and June 1940 do not match those provably by him, although Churchill might have recorded them after his voice had changed. According to one source, it is unproven whether Shelley is the speaker and, if so, whether the speeches were broadcast as having been spoken by Churchill. One report states Shelley did record a performance of Churchill's "We shall fight on the beaches" speech, which is claimed to be one of the three non-matching speeches,. However, Shelley's 78rpm record is dated 7 September 1942, whereas Churchill's speech was broadcast on 4 June 1940, key parts being read out by a BBC announcer. Shelley claimed that, with Churchill's permission, he did once voice Churchill for an introduction to a wartime propaganda film for distribution overseas, because the Prime Minister could not find time for the necessary visit to the studio. According to Shelley's great friend, former BBC radio and TV producer and presenter, Trevor Hill, Shelley did stand in for Churchill on at least three occasions, specifically when Churchill was ill or out of the country. That would never have been divulged at the time. Shelley's party piece, apparently often requested, was for everyone to close their eyes while he impersonated