BETTY Driver spent more than 40 years as Betty Turpin/Williams, the Rover’s Return barmaid in Coronation Street.

She died last week aged 91.

Though Betty the barmaid was her defining role, she started singing aged eight and became a music hall and theatre star with a fine ear for a sketch and joke.

It was this side of Betty Driver that Anita Curry, of Fartown, remembers.

“She signed my autograph book in 1950 when she was playing Huddersfield Palace Theatre on the same bill as comedian Harry Shiels,” said Anita.

“The way it came about was that Harry, who played a drunk leaning on a lamp post, wanted a girl to wander on to stage with a dog.

“Harry would then pick up the lamp post as the dog went by.”

Even though Anita was only 11 she was really stage-struck.

Her uncle, who was a chef at Silvio’s cafe in Westgate, had theatrical connections and so arranged for her to go quite regularly to the Palace.

“Betty was a really decent person,” Anita recalls. “She had time for everyone.