 Last of the Summer Wine was set and filmed in and around Holmfirth , West Yorkshire , England , and centred on a trio of old men and their youthful antics ; the membership of the trio changed several times over the years . The original trio consisted of Bill Owen as the scruffy and childlike Compo Simmonite , Peter Sallis as deep @-@ thinking and meek Norman Clegg , and Michael Bates as authoritarian and snobbish Cyril Blamire . When Bates dropped out due to illness in 1976 after two series , the role of the third man of the trio was filled in various years up to the 30th series by the quirky war veteran Walter " Foggy " Dewhurst ( Brian Wilde ) , who had two lengthy stints in the series , the eccentric inventor Seymour <unk> ( Michael Aldridge ) , and former police officer Herbert " Truly of The Yard " Truelove ( Frank Thornton ) . The men never seem to grow up , and they develop a unique perspective on their equally eccentric fellow townspeople through their stunts . Although in its early years the series generally revolved around the exploits of the main trio , with occasional interaction with a few recurring characters , over time the cast grew to include a variety of supporting characters and by later years the series was very much an ensemble piece . Each of these recurring characters contributed their own running jokes and subplots to the show and often becoming unwillingly involved in the schemes of the trio , or on occasion having their own , separate storylines . 
