TA-RA VERA
Legendary Corrie actress Liz Dawn, who played Vera Duckworth for 34 years, dies at 77 with her family at her bedside TRIBUTES PAGES 10&11
A STRING of stars paid tribute last night to Coronation Street star Liz Dawn, who died aged 77.
The actress – who played feisty Vera Duckworth for 34 years – passed away “peacefully” after suffering from lung condition emphysema and undergoing heart surgery in June.
Her devoted husband of more than 50 years, Don Ibbotson, and their family said they were “bereft” at losing their “inspiration”.
They said: “We are devastated and heartbroken at the passing of our muchloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and greatgrandmother, the incredible Liz Dawn.
“She died peacefully at home with her loving family around her.
“She has been the love, light and inspiration in our lives and we are bereft at her passing.”
Liz and Don had three children – Dawn, 52, Ann, 51, and Julie, 49. Liz also had one son, Graham, 59, from a previous marriage to Walter Bradley. She was a grandmother to six and had three great-grandchildren.
Her former colleagues at Coronation Street, which she joined in 1974, said they were “heartbroken” and hailed her as a “true Coronation Street legend”.
Liz played sharp-tongued Vera – who was married to Jack, played by Bill Tarmey – until 2008 when she asked to be written out due to ill health.
Bill Roache, 85, who plays Ken Barlow, described her as “one of the most beautiful human beings I’ve ever met”.
He added: “She was kind and the first to help anybody in trouble.
“She was a very loving and loveable person and even though she’s been out of the Street for quite a few years, there’s this sense of loss that she’s gone.
“The warmth and the humour that was in Vera came from Liz. You can’t act that, it’s something in you that comes over. She was great company, had great humour and was always sending herself up.
“She was a consummate professional and her comedy timing was brilliant. She was a very, very good professional actress and comedienne as well as being a very kind and loveable person.
“The relationship of Jack and Vera was one of the iconic classic partnerships of the Street.
“They were life losers. Everything went wrong but they never gave up. They would always get up and fight.
“Jack would get on with his pools and his beer and Vera would be trying to make a better life for them.
“They were the valiant little souls fighting the world. People identified with that and loved them. There was tremendous warmth, humanity and colossal humour from Jack and Vera.
“There was a deep-rooted love there. She was always pushing Jack to get on and do something with his life. She was wanting him to improve. People have always loved characters like that.”
Julie Goodyear, 75, who played Bet Lynch until 2003, said: “Such sad news regarding the passing of Liz Dawn. I send my sincere condolences to her family.”
Alan Halsall, 35, plays Tyrone Dobbs, who was taken in by the Duckworths after being abandoned by his mother.
He said: “Liz, first and foremost, was very much a family person. She was
WITH her perm, gravelly voice and wicked one-liners, Liz Dawn turned Vera Duckworth into one of Coronation Street’s best-loved matriarchs.
When Liz stepped on to the cobbles in 1974, it was initially only a bit-part role as a factory worker and Ivy Tilsley’s pal.
But producers saw potential in her no-nonsense portrayal of Vera and promoted her to a regular character with the arrival of husband Jack, played by Bill Tarmey, in 1979.
They created one of TV’s most famous love-hate relationships. The bickering pair couldn’t live with or without each other.
Born Sylvia Butterfield in her parents’ semi in Leeds in 1939, she was one of five children. Mum Annie worked at a local factory and dad Albert was a miner.
Liz left school at 15 and married her first husband, coal miner Walter Bradley, when she was just 18. They had one son, Graham.
The marriage collapsed after less than two years, leaving Liz a virtually penniless single mum at 20.
She then met the love of her life, Don Ibbotson, marrying in 1965 when she was seven months’ pregnant with the eldest of their three daughters.
After Liz sang in their local pub, Don entered her into a talent contest at a holiday camp. She won.
She picked up some bookings and was soon singing in working men’s clubs.
After small roles on TV, she joined Coronation Street.
She and Bill did what Corrie does best – light and shade, comedy and tragedy, joy and sorrow.
Her 30-a-day smoking habit and years of singing in pubs and clubs took their toll and Liz was diagnosed with emphysema in 2004.
More than 12 million viewers tuned in to watch Vera slip away in January 2008.