Comedian Dave Lee dies after cancer battle
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People across Kent have been remembering comedian and panto
legend Dave Lee who has died after a brief illness.
The 64-year-old, from Herne, had been diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer at the end of last year.
The illness forced him to withdraw from his role as Baron Hardup
in a production of Cinderella at the Marlowe Theatre. He died on
Monday.
The star of 16 previous productions and a former
warm-up act for TV shows, he was also a tireless fundraiser
for children's charities.
His Dave Lee's Happy Holidays charity has raised more than £2
million since 1994 for sick and disabled children. His efforts were
rewarded with an MBE in 2003.
Marlowe Theatre director Mark Everett spoke of
his shock at hearing the news overnight.
He said: “It’s an absolutely low point for all
of us. Dave went back a long way in the theatre’s history, was an
integral part of the old theatre and was indeed due to be part of
the first pantomime in the new theatre before illness forced him to
pull out.
“That was a real shock to the system because
quite simply, he was larger than life. He was always funny, always
cheerful, 100% professional.
“As a theatre director, you’re always looking
for people who are reliable and won’t let you down and Dave was
certainly that.
“He would always go on stage and enjoy every
single performance, no matter how he was feeling before or
after.
"He never ever had a bad word to say about
anyone, he was absolutely wonderful.”
Dave was due to be made a Freeman of the City of Canterbury at
the end of this month.
Leave your tributes to Dave Lee below.
Tuesday, January 17 2012
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