The Champion l Wednesday 14 March 2018
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Thanks for the laughter - how Champion readers shared their fond memories of Sir Ken Dodd TRIBUTES have been paid across the nation to legendary comedian Sir Ken Dodd who has died at the age of 90 - and people in south Sefton have particularly fond memories of ‘Doddy.’ He died on Sunday only a matter of days after returning to his Knotty Ash home in Liverpool from hospital, where he had been treated during the last six weeks for a chest infection. He had made his professional debut in Nottingham in 1954. In the following decades he became a regular on the stage, TV and radio. His shows were famous for lasting more than five hours, although he always maintained that “he was giving value for money.” He had also survived setbacks and in 1989 the comedian was charged with tax evasion, but was acquitted. In recent years he had turned on Southport’s Christmas lights and gave his last performance at Southport theatre at the end of last year. After the legendary entertainer was presented with his knighthood last year, Maghull lolliop man and radio presenter Dave Hughes shared his memories of seeing ‘Doddy ’ and the Beatles appear on stage together at the Albany Cinema in Maghull in 1961 at a charity event. He appealed for readers to get in touch and share any magical moments they remember of meeting Doddy and many readers responded to share their fond memories of him. Netherton reader Ilsa Ellis shared her memories
Sir Ken Dodd.
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pital staff a show in their lunchtime. She said that it was a great success and she had been a fan of his ever since. Lisa Chu, general manager at Southport Theatre said: “The team at the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre are truly saddened by the news of Sir Ken’s death over the weekend. “He and his wife Anne were great friends of the venue with relationships built over many years when he performed at least twice a year in the Southport Theatre. “We are proud to have been one of Ken’s favourite venues and we feel privileged to have known both him and Anne personally over the years. “Not only was Sir Ken a true comedy genius who literally made hundreds of thousands of guests laugh, sing and leave every show with a spring in their step, he was genuinely a lovely caring person, a true professional and a great deal of fun to be around. “He was loved by everyone who had the pleasure to meet him and his dedicated wife Anne who was always at his side. “The world has lost a true legend but his legacy will go on. “It’s impossible for anybody who has touched as many people’s hearts as Ken Dodd, for him ever to be forgotten. “Our thoughts, prayers and love go out to Anne and her family who we know will take comfort in the fact that Ken lived a full life and has had such a great positive impact on so many people over the years.”
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of meeting – and being frightened by him! - in Liverpool when she was only 15 years old! She was working as a trainee bridal assistant at ladies' clothing shop Nannette's in Liverpool in 1958 – her first job – when she saw Doddy, who was performing at the Liverpool Empire at the time. She glanced through the large glass back doors of Nannette's and saw Ken Dodd peering in, pulling faces and pulling his hair – and Ilsa was so frightened that she went and hid behind the counter! He came in and apologised and from then on, blew kisses and smiled when he walked past – and she became a lifelong fan! Ruth Wood-Park, from Bootle, got in touch with the Champion to share her memories of going to see Ken Dodd, three rows from the front, at The Empire in Liverpool four decades ago. She said: “I went with my daughter around 40 years ago when she was just a toddler – and she fell asleep as Ken Dodd came on stage! “It was a grand night though - no-one compares to him “At the end of the show, I bought a little ‘diddy man’ and I won’t part with it, I still have it now. “At that time, we didn’t have much money but there was no way I was going to miss going to see Doddy!” Irene Marland from Maghull said she met Ken Dodd in 1954 at Walton Hospital. She said she believed that his then girlfriend was a nurse there and she asked him to give the hos-
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