John Flanagan played Yorkshire country policeman PC Moss Parkin in this rural police drama series from Yorkshire Television – in many ways a blueprint for Heartbeat).
PC Parkin donned his wellies each week and drove his trusty old Land Rover around the North Yorkshire Moors dealing with everything from sheep rustling to army deserters.
Moss lived with his wife Beth (Heather Page) in the (fictitious) village of Fickley.
Devised by Elwyn Jones – the man behind such series as Z Carsand Maigret – and produced by Terence Williams, Parkin’s Patch also featured Gareth Thomas as Parkin’s colleague, Detective Constable Ron Radley.
The behind-the-scenes advisor who ensured PC Parkin was a convincing policeman was ex-Detective Chief Superintendent Arnold Robinson, former head of Rotherham and Sheffield CID.
PC Moss Parkin
John Flanagan Beth Parkin
Heather Page DC Ron Radley
Gareth Thomas Chief Superintendent Atkinson
Robert Urquhart
