People across Kent have been remembering comedian and panto legend Dave Lee who has died after a brief illness.

The 64-year-old, from Herne, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the end of last year.

The illness forced him to withdraw from his role as Baron Hardup in a production of Cinderella at the Marlowe Theatre. He died on Monday.

The star of 16 previous productions and a former warm-up act for TV shows, he was also a tireless fundraiser for children's charities.

His Dave Lee's Happy Holidays charity has raised more than £2 million since 1994 for sick and disabled children. His efforts were rewarded with an MBE in 2003.

Marlowe Theatre director Mark Everett spoke of his shock at hearing the news overnight.

He said: “It’s an absolutely low point for all of us. Dave went back a long way in the theatre’s history, was an integral part of the old theatre and was indeed due to be part of the first pantomime in the new theatre before illness forced him to pull out.

“That was a real shock to the system because quite simply, he was larger than life. He was always funny, always cheerful, 100% professional.

“As a theatre director, you’re always looking for people who are reliable and won’t let you down and Dave was certainly that.

“He would always go on stage and enjoy every single performance, no matter how he was feeling before or after.

"He never ever had a bad word to say about anyone, he was absolutely wonderful.”

Dave was due to be made a Freeman of the City of Canterbury at the end of this month.

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