Henry Cuthbert Edwards[1] akaFlash Harry is a fictional character from theSt. Trinian's series of films who first appears in the 1954The Belles of St Trinian's and who may also be aspiv. The term refers to "an ostentatious, loudly-dressed, and usually ill-mannered man".[2] The best-known portrayer isGeorge Cole in the 1950s–1960s films.
In theSt Trinian's films, Harry is a long-term associate of the girl pupils, aCockney involved in all sorts of shady dealings. His father soldracecards and, when he was 12, Harry himself was employed as aboot polisher by Miss Fritton,headmistress of St Trinian's, and may be an antithesis ofHarry Flashman (the bully) of the 1857 bookTom Brown's School Days.[3] As an adult, Harry is one of the few whom the pupils trust: he helps to bottle and sell theirgin, distilled in the school chemistry lab, and places bets on race horses for them. Harry also runs the St Trinian's Matrimonial Agency for the teenage Sixth Form girls, setting them up with wealthy men. He even runs a betting scam of his own.[4]
By the time Amber Spottiswood (Dora Bryan) becomes headmistress,[5] Harry's official connection to the school is as "chairman of the board ofgovernors" and he earns money as acostermonger while the school is closed. He sets up abetting shop on the school grounds under the name Harry Hackett Ltd and takes bets from locals and pupils.
Harry appears to be quite well known in the criminal community, another crook (Lionel Jeffries) referring to him as "riff-raff".[4]
"Flash Harry" was played byGeorge Cole in the first fourSt Trinian's movies:
Joe Melia played the part inThe Wildcats of St Trinian's in 1980.
Russell Brand was "Flash Harry" in the 2007 film,St. Trinian's but did not return forSt. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold in 2009.
The main plot ofThe Belles of St. Trinian's centred on the kidnapping of a race horse and featuredSid James ofCarry On fame as a shady bookmaker. Two years later, James starred in the comedyDry Rot which followed a similar plot. James's character was also called Flash Harry and was in some ways similar to the Flash Harry of St. Trinian's.