- When the world's first ATM opened at Barclays Bank in north London's Enfield district 27 June 1967, Varney became the very first person to use the machine
- Learned to drive a bus and passed the test so that he could drive the bus on the public highway (this can be seen in 'Holiday On The Buses').
- Was a very talented pianist.
- During World War II, he served in the Royal Electrical Engineers, and entertained the troops. After the war, he appeared in seaside resort shows and pantomimes.
- Suffered a stroke in 1989 which left him with an uneven heartbeat.
- He was 52 when On the Buses (1969) started, although his character was supposed to be about 35.
- Suffered a heart attack in 1965 and another, more severe one, in 1981 which forced him to semi-retire from acting.
- One of five children (Sid, Bella, Doris, Reg & Stanley)
- Attended school in West Ham, London. After leaving school, worked at the Regent's Park Hotel. Played piano and sang in working men's clubs. Acted on stage and performed in pantomime at seaside resorts. Was still active as a pianist after his acting career had taken off, even performing in Australia and New Zealand.
- He was very big in Australia and spent 6 months a year there so sold his villa in Malta because he was rarely there and bought a property in Australia.
- Starred on stage in the late 1940s in a comic revue entitled "Gaytime". His stooge in the act was Benny Hill.
- Unlike the other cast members of The Rag Trade (1961), he never acted on the West End stage at all.
- During his career his year of birth was often given as 1922.
- Was a very talented fine artist.
- Survived by one daughter named Jeanne Varney and two grandchildren, Ryan and Leah.
- He had an 18th century house in Middlesex.
- Driving army lorries during the war helped him pass the bus driving test that he had to take in order to drive buses in the buses television series.
- At one time he busked outside a London pub and played a piano in a club,.
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