THE funeral of Wirral-born actress Dame Patricia Routledge is to take place next month.
The Birkenhead-born star, best known for her role as Hyacinth Bucket in BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, passed away on Friday, October 3, aged 96.
She played the hilariously snobbish character on the BBC programme in the early 1990s, but also had a prolific career in the theatre.
Chichester-based Reynolds Funerals confirmed that Dame Patricia's funeral will be held at Chichester Cathedral on Wednesday, November 5 at 1pm and all are welcome to attend.
If you cannot make it in person, you can watch the service online. For more details see Reynolds Funerals website
Donations can be made to The Patricia Routledge Foundation, created as a grant making charity to support a wide range of charitable causes.
Dame Patricia was born in Tranmere in 1929. She attended Mersey Park Primary School and Birkenhead High School, before going on to read English at the University of Liverpool. Her studies later continued at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and London's Guildhall School of Music.
In a career spanning more than 70 years she became a household name through hundreds of radio, stage, film and television roles, including To Sir With Love, Steptoe and Son, Coronation Street, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, Alan Bennett's series of monologues Talking Heads, Victoria Wood's 'Kitty' and as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances.
Her work was recognised with nominations for dozens of entertainment industry awards, winning a Tony Award (Broadway's highest honour) for Best Actress in a Musical for Darling of the Day, an Olivier Award (the West End's highest honour) for Best Actress in a Musical for Candide and a British Comedy Award for Personality of the Year for her role in Keeping Up Appearances.
In 2017 she was honoured at Buckingham Palace as she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to the theatre and charity.
Dame Patricia returned to her hometown in January this year to receive Wirral's highest honour - the Honorary Freedom of the Borough - at a special reception in Birkenhead town hall, where she was joined by civic leaders including the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, The High Sheriff of Merseyside and a number of her friends. Pupils from Mersey Park Primary School, where Dame Patricia was once a member of the school choir, entertained the guests.
News of Dame Patricia's death was confirmed by her agent to the Press Association in a statement issued to Press Association. It read: "We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Dame Patricia Routledge, who died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by love.
"Even at 96 years old, Dame Patricia's passion for her work and for connecting with live audiences never waned, just as new generations of audiences have continued to find her through her beloved television roles."