Funeral held for sitcom actress

The funeral service was held at St Mark's Church in Dunkinfield

A service of thanksgiving has been held in memory of actress Kathy Staff, who played Nora Batty in long-running BBC One sitcom Last Of The Summer Wine.

The 80-year-old, who was from Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, died last week following an illness.

Dozens of mourners attended the public service at St Mark's Church in the town on Tuesday.

The Reverend Alison Cox said both the Church and Mrs Staff's family had been overwhelmed by messages of support.

Mrs Cox told mourners that Kathy Staff was born around the corner from the church, arranged outings for the congregation, visited the sick and elderly, and embodied old fashioned and traditional values - hard work, community, family and faith.

I can't really start to imagine what life is going to be like without her The Reverend Alison Cox

"She was very cheerful, very easy to get to know, very generous with her time and very supportive of community activities here in Dukinfield."

Mrs Staff was an active member of her local church, and Mrs Cox added: "I can't really start to imagine what life is going to be like without her."

The actress appeared as battleaxe Nora Batty in 243 episodes of the Yorkshire-based comedy, beginning in the first episode in January 1973.

She also played cleaner Doris Luke in long-running ITV soap Crossroads and appeared in Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and with David Jason and Ronnie Barker in Open All Hours.

Hare-brained adventures

The actress's daughters, Katherine and Susan, sat among mourners who smiled and laughed as her husband John's eulogy was read out recalling their early years.

He told how their careers criss-crossed over the years, and that their final appearance together was on the Last of the Summer Wine, where he played a flower-arranging suitor for Nora.

Nora Batty was Kathy Staff's most enduring TV role

"As was seen then, and as I've seen down the years, the general public had huge affection for Kathy and the roles she played," he added.

"No one could have come close to her portrayal of Nora Batty."

Her death means that Peter Sallis, who played Norman Clegg, is the only one of Last of The Summer Wine's leading cast members left alive.

Brian Wilde, who played pompous ex-army corporal Foggy Dewhirst, died in March, aged 80.

Bill Owen, who starred as welly-wearing rogue Compo for 28 years, passed away in 1999, while Dame Thora Hird, who played village gossip Edie Pegden, died in 2003.

A memorial fund has also been set up in her memory at St Mark's.