JACK Milroy, the comedian and music hall legend, died yesterday at the age of 85. Rikki Fulton, his long-time partner, led the tributes from the world of Scottish entertainment.
Milroy, who was awarded an MBE for his services to entertainment in June last year, died from heart failure in the Western Infirmary in Glasgow.
His widow, Mary Lee, who had not left his bedside for three days, said he passed away ''very peacefully and nicely''.
Fulton, Milroy's partner in the comedy duo Francie and Josie, said he had lost a dear friend. ''He was one of my greatest friends and I'm going to miss him dreadfully. We have worked together for 50 years at least.''
The comedian's death cast a cloud over the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow where Milroy spent many years delighting audiences. Stars who had gathered to reveal details of a benefit variety night for Jimmy Logan, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, expressed sadness at the loss of ''one of the nicest men in the business''.
Johnny Beattie said: ''He was, without question, the most loved man in our business ... Jack was a legend.''
Logan described his life-long friend as a ''lovely human being''.
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