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

The 64-year-old, from Canterbury, 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 in
hopsital 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.”

Phil Hadler, who was a close friend and former corporate
fundraiser for Dave Lee’s Happy Holidays, said it was a very sad
day for the district.

He said: "I have known Dave since the 1960s when we were in
a band together. In fact, he was in the process of getting some of
his old group back together again and he had even dusted off his
old drum kit.

"Dave was never really the same after losing his wife Linda
three years ago obviously with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer,
his prognosis wasn’t great.

"But he recently had a visit from a couple of close friends
- comedians Bradley Walsh and Joe Pasquale - who took him out
for the day which perked him up."

He added: "His charity raised more than £2 million over the last
14 years and helped thousands of kids.

"It’s difficult to imagine the charity without Dave but I am
sure it will be kept going for a while because we have already paid
for the holiday homes in Camber Sands for the coming year.

"I also hope that his adult show at The Marlowe will
still go ahead in May and I have no doubt the stars of comedy who
knew Dave well will be queuing up to take part."

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

Now a concert being held in Folkestone
later this month will honour the comic.

The charity gala night been organised
at the Tower Theatre in Folkestone on Sunday January 29.

It has been organised by the Kent
Police social club at Folkestone Police Station and it had been
hoped that Dave would be able to attend.

The evening will still go ahead in
Dave's honour, and there will be performances by Alvin Stardust and
his band, Chas Hodges (from Chas & Dave fame),
singer/songwriter John Allen, Richard Digance and rock violinist
Victoria Yellop.

Elsewhere, Gills boss Paul Scally has paid tribute to
Dave, who had appeared at countless Player of the Year awards
at Priestfield stadium and was involved in many of the club’s
fundraising events