Irish singer and entertainer Val Doonican, who lived in Knotty Green, has passed away aged 88.

The legendary performer, who featured regularly on the BBC with The Val Doonican Show from 1965 to 1986, and had five successive Top 10 albums in the UK Albums Chart in the sixties, passed away peacefully at a nursing home on Thursday.

A statement from the family said Mr Doonican was not unwell but simply his ‘batteries ran out’.

It said: “Until 87, he was fit as a flea. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and will be greatly missed by family, friends and his many fans.”

TV producer, Bob Massie, whose wife Tina is landlady at The Red Lion pub in Knotty Green, paid tribute to the ‘charming’ entertainer, whose jumpers and rocking chair became his trademark.

He said: “I knew him from working in television in London and he was also one our locals in Knotty Green. He came into the pub from time to time. I used to go to him for advice about our music festival Knotfest.

“He was a lovely, lovely man. He was the face of BBC television and I can still remember all his songs to this day.

“He truly was a charming man and it’s a dreadful shame that he has passed away. He was one of our greatest entertainers of all time.”

Bucks Free Press:

Doonican, who was born in Waterford, Ireland on February 3, 1927, the youngest of eight children, rose to fame after appearing on Sunday Night at the Palladium in 1963.

He was offered his own television show, which entertained audiences for over 20 years.

The performance also marked the beginning of a successful recording career, releasing hits like "Walk Tall" and "The Special Years".

The keen golfer and painter stopped performing in 2009 after 60 years in showbusiness and divided his time between his homes in Buckinghamshire and Spain.

He leaves behind his wife Lynn, who he celebrated his Golden Wedding anniversary with in April 2012, daughters Sarah and Fiona and grandchildren Bethany and Scott.  

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