Tributes to Laughing Len

Len will perhaps be best remembered for his stint with the Black and White Minstrel Show in the 1960s.

But this was by no means his only success, as he was a member of the police force for seven years during the 1950s in Golders Green. He made it to the rank of sergeant before showbiz beckoned.

Len s brother Geoff, remembers him with fondness as a lively character with a kind heart: "He was a very talented man, we will miss him," he said.

Len was born in Walkden near Bolton, where he lived until his family moved to Manchester shortly after World War II ended.

And he was soon able to make good use of his exceptional singing voice when he became a chorister at Manchester Cathedral while he was still at school.

It was shortly after this that he moved to London to join the police force and he married his first wife, Dorothy. The couple had two children, Anton and Carol.

Ever the showman, Len s spell in the police provided him with plenty of opportunities to shine as a member of the force s own male voice choir.

During this time, he was also a member of the Manor House Opera Company, where he would always take the lead tenor role.

Len married his second wife, Cathy, in 1966 and they had a son, David, who now lives in America.

They moved to Littlehampton when he left the Black and White Minstrels, as he had secured a job as the southern area manager for Bass, Mitchell and Butler breweries.

At the beginning of January, he had a nasty fall and was rushed to Worthing Hospital with internal bleeding. He was said to be laughing and joking right until the end.

He will be remembered as a kind, gentle man with a great sense of humour, who would always do what he could to help someone else.

The funeral is due to take place on Tuesday at Worthing Crematorium at 2.40pm.