ONE of Huddersfield's best-known entertainers has died.
Ceddie Beaumont, of Hill Top, Slaithwaite, died aged 78 at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
In a long career as a comedian and actor he has appeared in TV programmes including Heartbeat, Coronation Street, Where The Heart Is, Dalziel And Pascoe, Cops, All Creatures Great And Small and Last Of The Summer Wine.
One of his early roles was in Coronation Street when he saved Deirdre's life. He was the van driver who stopped her leaping from a bridge in 1977.
He acted as compere for Marti Caine, appeared alongside Bernard Manning and Jim Bowen and made a video with Roy Chubby Brown.
He was touring clubs as a stand-up comedian by the age of 25 and his first booking was at Deighton and Sheepridge Conservative Working Men's Club.
During the Second World War Ceddie served in the Royal Navy. He and wife Josephine were married in 1948.
She said: "He was just such a natural born storyteller. People will always remember his trademark cloth cap which he always wore to tell jokes. He started with a straw hat in the early days, but misplaced it."
His wit was legendary. Ceddie once worked as an insurance agent. His boss said: "The trouble with you, Beaumont, is you put your work third behind entertaining and golf."
"Nay," he retorted. "I've just taken up bowls."
He leaves two sons, Kevin and Ashley, and four grandchildren, Charlotte, James, Philippa and Lauren. His funeral will be at St James's Parish Church in Slaithwaite at 11.30am on New Year's Eve.
