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Thora Hird

British actress. Born: 28 May 1911 in Morecambe, Lancashire, UK. Died: 15 March 2003 at Brinsworth House in Twickenham, Middlesex, UK (aged 91). Hird was a well-known national figure on British TV and film, especially after her work playing character Edie Pegden on comedy "Last Of The Summer Wine" (1986-2003), along with Talking Heads monologues, religious broadcasting, and finally as face of Churchill stairlifts late 1990s ad campaign. Living in the Bayswater area of London for over 60 years, a commemorative blue plaque was installed there on 7 July 2019 by The Theatre And Film Guild Of Great Britain And America. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1983, later raised to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1993 foe her acting and charity work. She also received an honorary D.Litt. from Lancaster University in 1989. Undergoing a heart bypass operation in 1992, she suffered from severe arthritis and used a wheelchair in her later life, with a memorial service held on 15 September 2003 at Westminster Abbey attended by more than 2000 people, including names such as [a=Alan Bennett], Sir [a=David Frost], [a=Melvyn Bragg], and [a=Victoria Wood]. Mother of [a=Janette Scott], grandmother of [a=James Torme].