Peter Llewellyn-Jones, the British Sign Language interpreter, academic, and actor, has died at the age of 76. He was widely recognized for his portrayal of Mr. Montgomery Lancelot Grimley in the children's television series 'The Riddlers'.
The British Deaf Association issued a statement mourning his passing, noting his extensive contributions. "A respected BSL advocate, interpreter, educator and ally, Peter devoted more than 50 years to supporting Deaf people and championing BSL," the association said. "His legacy will never be forgotten. Rest in peace."
Llewellyn-Jones's career spanned over five decades and encompassed social work, television, theatre, interpreter training, and academic research. He qualified as a professional interpreter in 1972, a time when the field was still in its formative stages.
His early television work included a role as Supersign in 'Insight,' a Yorkshire Television series aimed at deaf and hard-of-hearing children, which combined educational content with entertainment. He later gained broader recognition as Mr. Grimley, the neighbor of the central character Marjorie, appearing in 'The Riddlers' between 1989 and 1998.
Beyond children's programming, Llewellyn-Jones was involved in interpreting for performing arts such as theater and opera and appeared in programs focused on sign language and interpreting. He also played a significant role in the advancement of interpreter education in Britain, teaching at various universities and contributing to the development of higher-education courses for BSL-English interpreters. He served as Senior Teaching Fellow and Programme Director for the MA in Interpreting: BSL-English at the University of Leeds, where he later became a Visiting Research Fellow. He also worked with the University of Central Lancashire.
Former students and fans shared tributes on social media, remembering his impact as a teacher and his memorable performances. One person wrote, "Lovely man and I had the pleasure of being taught by him. I always left his class feeling good about yourself. Nice memories and he defiantly left his stamp on the world." Another described him as "The most enthralling teacher I have had, funny and insightful! Sad news and he will be missed in all circles."