Tributes have been flooding in after the shock news that Lynda Baron has passed away yesterday at the age of 82.
The BAFTA award-winning, Urmston-born actress, comedian, and singer was probably best known for playing the role of Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the iconic BBC sitcom Open All Hours between 1976-1985 starring opposite Sir David Jason and Ronnie Barker, and then again in the show’s sequel series Still Open All Hours from 2013-2016.
She also notably-played Auntie Mabel in the beloved CBeebies children’s TV show Come Outside from 1993-1997.
She had also appeared in the ITV sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt, BBC soap EastEnders as Linda Clarke, the mother of Jane Beale, and made appearances in Doctor Who, Last Of The Summer Wine, and much-loved Mancunian favourite sitcom Dinner Ladies.
Baron’s devastating death was announced in a statement shared by her agent of nearly 30 years, Donna French, yesterday: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved client Lynda Baron [who] was a wonderful actress and a great friend.
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“We have lost a leading light of our world.
“We extend our deepest condolences to her daughter Sarah, her son Morgan and all her family.”
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Since the shocking news broke, previous co-stars and fans have been taking to social media to share their heartfelt tributes and memories of Baron’s successful and celebrated career, and everything she achieved.
Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley paid tribute to Baron – who played her mother in the drama series Fat Friends, saying: “Each and everyday, I learnt so much from you, but mostly, we always laughed together and your energy will live on forever.”
GOD BLESS YOU LYNDA🙏🏻REST IN PEACE😇 you played my mum for four wonderful,memorable years in “Fat Friends”each & everyday,I learnt so much from you,but mostly we ALWAYS laughed together,your energy will live on FOREVER🙏🏻 #restinpeace#legend 😇💛 love ya xxx pic.twitter.com/PcAeeXSmBp
Stockport-born actress Sally Lindsay wrote in tribute on Twitter: “I loved Lynda Baron. She was funny and clever and a joy to work with, and she once gifted me a pair of beautiful red shoes. This has made me very sad – RIP Lynda darling.”
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Actor Adil Ray OBE also paid a worthy tribute on Twitter: “Very sad to hear of the passing of Lynda Baron. Such a lovely lady and a giving, caring person on set. We were so honoured when she played a guest role in Citizen Khan. She was so supportive.
“Thoughts with Lynda’s friends and family,” he added.
Radcliffe-born actor John Partridge, who played Baron’s EastEnders character’s son, said: “Absolutely heartbroken… The showgirls showgirl. She was so very gracious, giving and a RIOT to boot. Night night Mum.”
The official Twitter accounts of EastEnders, CBeebies, and more have also paid tribute.
Fans have too been sharing memories of Baron in their hundreds on Twitter.
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One fan wrote: “Such sad news about Lynda Baron, an actress who was a comforting auntie to a generation of kids she never met.
“She had a quality when you watched her that made you feel like you knew her so well.”
Another said: “How sad to hear the passing of Lynda Baron, well known to us all as nurse Gladys Emmanuel in Open All Hours, and she was also Auntie Mabel with her lovely dog Pippin, in Come Outside – a lovely children’s program my daughter loved to bits when she was little.
“A beautiful figure and comfort from so many of our childhoods, rest in peace to Lynda Baron,” another fan said on Twitter.
Such sad news about Lynda Baron, an actress who was a comforting auntie to a generation of kids she never met. She had a quality when you watched her that made you feel like you knew her so well 💗 pic.twitter.com/AKFqGT9vG4
— Harrison Brocklehurst (@harrisonjbrock) March 7, 2022
How sad to hear the passing of Lynda Baron, well known to us all as nurse Gladys Emmanuel❤️ in ‘open all hours’.
She was also Auntie Mabel with her lovely dog Pippin, in ‘come outside’ , a lovely children’s program my daughter loved to bits when she was little☺️
In her earlier life, Baron trained at the Royal Academy of Dance, before pursuing a career in acting, comedy, and showbusiness.
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Baron was nominated for a BAFTA in 2011 for her role in The Road To Coronation Street on BBC Four – a one-off drama about the early days of the soap, in which she played actress Violet Carson, who portrayed Ena Sharples in the long-running series.
Her film credits also included 2020’s sports movie Dream Horse, Woody Allen’s 2006 romantic crime Scoop, and 2005’s Colour Me Kubrick.
Also an accomplished West End star, Baron featured in the musical Follies, and in the stage version of In Celebration alongside Orlando Bloom, and also appeared in numerous other theatre productions including An Inspector Calls, Stepping Out, and The Full Monty.
One of the Premier League’s best-ever players and a true Manchester City legend, Kevin De Bruyne, has confirmed he will soon be leaving the club.
Announced in a series of emotional social media posts on Friday, 4 April, the brilliant Belgian footballer will be calling time on his career at the Etihad Stadium come the end of this season.
Having spent a decade in the iconic blue of Man City, De Bruyne will undoubtedly go down as one of their all-time greats, having helped them to their first Champions League trophy during the Treble-winning year and a record four consecutive Premier League titles – of which he’s won six in total.
As you can see in the lengthy message shared on his social media, ‘King Kev’ informed City supporters that this current campaign will be his last in their colours, writing: “Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter.”
The 33-year-old, who has suffered from increasing injury problems over the last couple of years, goes on to say that “Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players we all know this day eventually come. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first.”
In what is clearly a heartfelt and just as difficult a post for him to write as it is for fans to hear, he added: Football led me to all of you – and this city […] This will always be our HOME.”
Blues all over Greater Manchester and beyond will be heartbroken, but many won’t be completely shocked given his in-and-out
It’s a sad day to be a Cityzen, no doubt.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Manchester derby, manager Pep Guardiola said: “In the Premier League, he is one of the greatest midfielders in this country and top of the Club. Great, if not the greatest.
Manchester City will bid an emotional farewell to Kevin De Bruyne this summer when his contract expires, bringing an end to a glittering 10-year period at the Club 🩵
Although his talent will never come into question, it’s no secret that he’s struggled to stay fit and be as prolific a creator in Guardiola‘s side – though this is largely in contrast to his ridiculously high levels and just how much of a talisman he has been over the past 10 years.
Starting just 19 matches this season, he’s still managed to score four goals and register seven assists, but a recurring hamstring problem has seen game time limited.
Regardless, when he’s at his best, there’s no question about it: he’s the best player in the Premier League, and the club have promised to pay fitting tributes to their generational number 17.
With 106 goals to his name in 413 appearances – the first midfielder since Colin Bell to reach over a century – across all competitions for City, not to mention 118 assists in the Premier League alone, he’s been one of the most creative and, frankly, ingenious players on the planet for more than a decade.
Whether you’re a Blue, a Red or otherwise, no one can deny the joy of watching him play football. Thanks for the memories, KdB.
The regeneration plans being put forward for Prestwich have taken another step forward as a construction company has new been appointed to bring the vision of a new village centre to life.
With full planning permission for phase one of the redevelopment granted back in July 2024, it’s been pretty much full speed ahead on lining up one of Greater Manchester’s latest regeneration projects and adding more to what is already one of its best up-and-coming suburbs.
Prestwich Village Regeneration LLP are pumping over £100 million into developing the main square, and with Chroma Consulting having now passed on the baton to those erecting this new-look town centre, the joint venture between Bury Council and national ‘place maker’ Muse, work can soon begin.
You can see one of the first early renders down below:
CGIs of the new space around the Longfield Centre. (Credit: Supplied)
VINCI Building were officially appointed as construction partners last month, and with enabling works (surveys, ground investigations and so forth) now complete, the contractors are expected to get underway soon.
Additions to the vibrant new village centre will include a multi-storey Travel Hub, which will also see 301 new parking spaces, along with electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage and a car club. This will replace the Fairfax Road car park, which closed when the early stage began last December.
Beyond this, the Prestwich regeneration plans are set to include a community hub, library and flexible community space for arts and cultural events, a new Prestwich Health Centre; a fresh village square with ‘family-friendly social places’ and room for open-air markets, festivals and more.
A dedicated Prestwich Village Market hall will be the perfect place to house local retailers as well as food and drink vendors, not to mention a much better entry point into the village courtesy of plans to transform the “arrival experience from the tram” by integrating with surrounding green spaces.
Speaking of which, there will also be extensive landscaping in and around the village centre, with the existing fountain set to be removed and new public art installations created in its place.
A glimpse at the new Prestwich Village Market.An overview of all three phases.Credit: Supplied
Beyond the public spaces, over 200 new homes – which made up a big part of the initial application – are also included in the wider vision, with a mix of affordable housing and FTB (first-time buyers) properties.
Leader of Bury Council, Eamonn O’Brien, said of the latest developments: “We are thrilled to announce the next stage in this multi-million pound transformational regeneration scheme, which marks a significant step towards revitalising the heart of Prestwich Village and creating a vibrant, sustainable future for all.
“As well as enhancing local infrastructure, our ambitious plans will foster economic growth and improve the quality of life for the whole community.” A final completion date is yet to be confirmed, but work on the Travel Hub specifically is set to carry over into next year.
Exciting times are ahead for Prestwich. It’s not the only borough making plans for the next chapter and set for a bit of TLC.
Emily Sergeant -
8th March 2022 
