THE death of Bob Monkhouse has been mourned by many in Swindon where he had strong links.

Bob was one of the UK's greatest comedians, always arousing strong feelings of either love or hate but never indifference.

His death in the early hours of yesterday at his 16th century farmhouse near Leighton Buzzard in Bedford-shire followed a two year battle with prostate cancer .

For more than four decades the stand-up comedian, game show host, writer and comedy actor was a permanent fixture on TV screens and in theatres up and down the country.

Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares, Family Fortunes, the National Lottery Draw, Wipeout and 12 films including the first Carry On movie, Carry On Sergeant, all show the slick, polished professionalism of the veteran entertainer.

Bob, who was 75 when he died, was no stranger to Swindon and last appeared at the Wyvern Theatre in 1993 but it was his autobiography, Crying With Laughter, which revealed his other connection with the town a juicy excerpt about his affair with Diana Dors.

When interviewed about his book and friendship with the Swindon-born film star he said: "With Diana we did have one joyous afternoon 40 years ago and I know that her only surviving relative is Jason, her son, who I think will say 'well done mum' if he reads my book.''

Bob was a stalwart on TV talent show Opportunity Knocks and is fondly remembered by Mollie Tanner from the Tanwood School of Performing Arts and Dance in Swindon.

Mollie took some of her dancers to appear on the show.

"I haven't stopped crying since I heard the news,'' said Mollie.

"We did three shows with him and he was the kindest, loveliest man. He came over to us and said the show wouldn't be the same without us.

"He respected everybody including the backstage crew. He was such a gentleman."

Mollie dismissed his affair with Diana as being a showbiz thing.

"It was between his first and second wife and they all have their flings. I think they just both admired each other.''

Another Swindonian Jane Osborne, now running the musical drama company Stage Struck, remembers Bob well as she was a winner on the show.

"He was a genuinely nice man. We were rehearsing in the mornings and he would sit in the audience through every act and then give a word of advice or say well done,'' she said.

"He was a lovely guy and extremely funny but the off-camera bits were the funniest.

"He could be a bit blue as well.''

Bob, who was awarded an OBE in 1993, was born in 1928 in Beckenham, Kent and started out as a comedy writer.

He had three children with his first wife Elizabeth, a daughter, Abigail and two sons who both died in tragic circumstances Gary from cerebral palsy and Simon from a heroin overdose in Thailand.

He left Elizabeth after 18 years and married his then secretary Jackie in 1972 and was devoted to her Mollie said: "He loved Jackie and she was the loveliest lady.''