Tears and laughter at Staff funeral

Known and loved by millions of TV viewers for her role as Britain's favourite northern battle axe, she was laid to rest at St Mark's Church, Dukinfield, in Tameside, where she was a lifelong member - and gave her first stage performances as a child in church pantomimes.

The 80-year-old died surrounded by her family at a hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, on Saturday, December 13, after a long illness.

On Tuesday more than 400 mourners heard a eulogy from fellow showbiz star, actor and life-long friend Roy Barraclough.

Famous for playing Alec Gilroy in Coronation Street, Barraclough could not be at the service because of showbusiness commitments.

But the actress's husband, John, and daughters, Katherine and Susan, sat among mourners who smiled and laughed as his eulogy was read out recalling their early careers.

They first met in 1968 while both auditioning for Castle Haven, Yorkshire TV's first soap opera, he said. They would meet at Stalybridge train station to get the train to Leeds for the show - "a sort of Brief Encounter with tripe", he said.

With her curlers, wrinkled stockings and razor-sharp tongue, Nora Batty became the nation's favourite harridan and Staff's most famous role.

She played the character in 243 episodes of the Yorkshire-based comedy, beginning in the first episode in January 1973 and making her last appearance in August.

Revd Cox told mourners she was born around the corner from the church, arranged outings for the congregation, visited the sick and elderly, and embodied old fashioned and traditional values - hard work, community, family and faith. "Kathy was generous, kind, friendly, courageous and wise," Revd Cox said, an "authentic person".