Out of their Trees - a legal mash

There are times when it doesn't surprise me when a well-known actor comes out. Last month David Ogden Stiers admitted being gay. His face and distinctive name became a regular part of my childhood from his appearances as Major Winchester in the series "MASH". But it was his regular appearances in the 1980s revival of "Perry Mason", where he played the Prosecuting Counsel, that lit up my gaydar.

Playing Perry Mason, as he did in the original 1960s series, butch gay Raymond Burr frequently reduced Stiers' witness to tears of confession with the booming "Isn't that right?" after detailing his deductions in court, to which you would always see Stiers' camp purse of the lips as if he was thinking "Ooh, you bitch!"

I was asked earlier this year why it is often easier to trace American ancestry. The answer's simple - they keep better records than we do. So in no time at all I traced David Ogden Stiers' ancestry back to medieval Nottinghamshire.


Three prominent families in his ancestry are the Willoughbys of Wollaton, the Nevilles of Rolleston and the Babingtons of Chilwell. Stiers has some Mayflower ancestry as well, but none originating in Nottinghamshire.Like myself Stiers inherits royal blood through Edward III, son of Nottingham Castle's favourite queen - Edward II. Similarly we both descend from the brother of the castle's only (so far) gay constable Sir William Neville.Among his notable LGBT relatives (apart from myself!) are Will Young, Claire Balding, Anthony Perkins, Francis Bacon (the artist) and Ellen Degeneres.


To return to Nottinghamshire's Rainbow Heritage, click on www.nottsrainbowheritage.org.uk