Fred Griffiths was born on March 8 1912 in Ludlow Shropshire England as Frederick David Griffiths He was an actor known for To Sir with Love 1967 Steptoe and Son1972 and The Cruel Sea 1953 He was married to Emily Sadler He died on August 27 1994 in London England He was a fireman based in Chelsea during the war and broke into acting by accident He played a taxi driver in no less than 20 films and appeared in over 100 in total He died a widower and left one son Often played taxi drivers and was indeed a qualified London Taxi Driver who kept his badge and worked as a taxi driver between filming jobs He appeared in a wartime documentary film and someone saw his character appeal and started a new career Appeared in a television commercial on top of Saint Pauls Cathederal in 1973 with Chris Sullivan