Sir Cyril remembers old friend

The late Bernard Manning

Sir Cyril Smith MBE has paid tribute to the life of his friend Bernard Manning following the comedian's death yesterday afternoon, Monday 18 June. The 76 year-old died in hospital after being treated for a kidney condition. Rather than focus on what some have termed Manning's 'racist brand of humour', Sir Cyril remembered the charitable causes for which Manning raised thousands of pounds.

The former Rochdale MP said: "Bernard was a heavyweight in more ways than one. A heavyweight to the literally hundreds of charitable causes that he supported all his life and raised thousands of pounds for. I spoke to him only a few weeks ago, as I often did and he was in good form despite his ill health. Bernard was kind, generous, honest and straight and will be missed. He was often maligned and wrongly so - From one Heavyweight to another Bernard will be missed!"

Manning always denied being racist and once remarked: "I tell jokes. You never take a joke seriously."

In 2002, he was banned from performing his act in the seaside town of Weymouth, in Dorset, because councillors were worried that he would breach race laws.

He died in North Manchester General Hospital at 3.10pm, Monday 18 June.