SHE was one of Britain’s best-loved actresses.
But now a row has broken out over an apparent snub to Dame Thora Hird.
The actress spent 17 years as one of the stars of the hit comedy Last Of The Summer Wine.
But English Heritage have turned down a plea to have a blue plaque in her honour on a building in Morecambe where she lived.
The organisation has decreed it is “too soon” to commemorate her life.
The actress died in 2003 aged 91 and because the centenary of her birth has passed, she would have qualified for a plaque.
Dame Thora played Edie Pegden in Summer Wine from 1986 to 2003 and was one of the stars of the show.
Roy Clarke, writer of the series, was amazed at the English Heritage decision.
“Thora was a star even before I entered the business and that was a long time ago.
“How much more time does English Heritage need?”
A spokesman for English Heritage said: “Our panel had to assess how a person will be viewed in 10, 50 or even 100 years’ time.”
