“Bye-de-Bye” tribute to Hi-de-Hi! actor Paul Shane

A floral tribute reading the words "Bye De Bye" on display at the funeral service of Paul Shane. Picture: PA

Hundreds of people stood in bright sunshine outside Rotherham Minster as the Hi-de-Hi! star’s coffin was carried inside.

Other well-known faces from the hit 80s sitcom joined Shane’s family behind the pallbearers, including Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland and Ruth Madoc.

Pollard said to the crowd: “Thanks for coming. He would have been so pleased.”

Paul Shane pictured in 1985. Picture: PA

Shane died at the age of 72 following a short illness a fortnight ago. There was applause in Rotherham town centre after the cortege arrived yesterday afternoon with a police escort.

Yellow and white flowers in the side window of the hearse spelt out “Bye-de-Bye”.

Shane’s costume, worn by his character, Ted Bovis, was hanging next to a photograph of the character at the front of church service.

Holland remembered his friend in a eulogy during the service. He said: “Thanks for all those wonderful times, but most of thank you for all the fun.”

Holland, who played Bovis’s sidekick Spike in Hi-de-Hi!, said he worked with Shane for 18 years. “In all that time, the one thing that sticks in my mind is fun,” he told the congregation.

And he led a rendition of the “Hi-de-Hi, Ho-de-Ho” shout, saying: “Let’s have it one more time for Shaney.”

The service included music from the Barnburgh Male Voice Choir and a poem read by Amy Wragg, Shane’s youngest granddaughter.

The actor died surrounded by friends and family in a hospice in Rotherham.

Shane – born George Frederick Speight – was a coalminer before starting out as a cabaret act touring workingmen’s clubs in the 1960s.

As well as Hi-de-Hi!, in which he played holiday camp host Bovis, he starred in the TV series You Rang M’Lord? and Oh, Dr Beeching!

He also appeared in Holby City, Doctors, Coronation Street and A Touch of Frost.

Shane is survived by three daughters and six grandchildren. His wife Dory died in 2001.

Outside, Pollard said: “He would have loved today. He would have thought ‘All these people, I must have done something right’. He was just really loved. What a great, great day

for it.”