He dies seven years ago, but the immortal tones of Frankie Howerd still rang around York's Grand Opera House - thanks to fellow stars who hold his memory in their hearts.

Tribute: Burt Weedon sings for the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Marion Smallwood, and the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Derek Smallwood, as the stars gather for the unveiling of the Frankie Howerd memorial plaque at the Grand Opera House, York. Picture by David Harrison

A host of famous names met in York to celebrate the life of Frankie, one of Britain's most famous comedians ... and few of them could resist giving their versions of his memorable catchphrases.

Take John Challis, who played Boycie the dodgy car dealer in Only Fools and Horses and worked with Frankie in 1982.

"For some reason I've always been able to impersonate him," he said. "I just always remember him standing up doing his ooohhh noooo's etc.

"There was something enchanting about him, he was a natural, like Tommy Cooper."

Frankie Howerd was born in York's City Hospital on March 6, 1917, and spent the early years of his life living at 53 Hartoft Street.

A blue plaque bearing the simple legend "Frankie Howerd OBE, Son of York 1917-1992" was unveiled outside the Grand Opera House during a weekend of events organised in his honour.

Fans of the comic genius were given the opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of Tom O'Connor, Jimmy Cricket, Fawlty Towers' Spanish waiter, Manuel, alias Andrew Sachs, and some of the characters from Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

Andrew Sachs said Frankie Howerd was one of his comic idols from childhood.

He said: "I used to listen to him on the BBC's Variety Bandbox radio programme.

"He was a man who with apparently very little material, just a few silly things, could make you laugh.

"He didn't do much, he just sort of chuntered a bit."

And for Jimmy Cricket, the comedian's humanity and vulnerability were what he most remembered.

He said: "He made people feel good because although you had your own problems there was a fellow worse off than you.

"The good thing about comedy is that you feel sympathy and pathos for the struggle against life's stresses and strains and you very much had that feeling with Frankie."

And Tom O'Connor paid him a heartfelt tribute when he said: "He was a special man, a generous man and most importantly a funny man.

"If a comedian is on stage for fifteen minutes without insulting anyone, when he's done ten minutes and hasn't sworn, or he's been there for five minutes and hasn't said anything, that's Frankie Howerd.

"He knew how to make the British laugh.

"He was born in York and he has left a mark in history that will never be erased."

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