Pat Ashton
Pat Ashton (28 February 1931 – 23 June 2013) was an English actress. Her engaging cockney, blonde persona is best remembered for appearances in English TV-sitcom film spin-offs "On the Buses" (1971) and "Mutiny on the Buses" (1972). She was married to Geoff Godwin 1953-1985. Early life. Ashton was born and raised in Wood Green, north London. Trained from childhood as a singer and tap-dancer, she performed in the 1950s at seaside resorts around England in summer season shows. In the early 1960s, she toured Europe with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in "Oh, What  a Lovely War!". Early West End appearances included "Half a Sixpence" and "The Matchgirls". Career. Ashton's first television break was taking the role of Fanny Cornforth opposite Oliver Reed in Ken Russell's "Danté's Inferno (1967)", a film in the "Omnibus" series on the life of Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The part later led to a small role in Russell's 1971 film "The Devils". In 1970, Ashton's chirpy, blonde persona found her understudying Barbara Windsor in the Ned Sherrin-produced musical "Sing a Rude Song", based on the life of music hall singer Marie Lloyd; she successfully  took the lead role when Windsor was struck down with laryngitis. Ashton played numerous TV roles; credits include: "On the Buses" (1971) - subsequently making memorable appearances in two spin-off films; "The Benny Hill Show" (1972–80); "Both Ends Meet" (1972, with Dora Bryan); "Don't Drink the Water" (1975, an "On the Buses" spin-off); "Yus, My Dear" (1976, with Arthur Mullard), "Rooms" (1977); "Only When I Laugh" (1980, with James Bolam); "The Gaffer" (1981–83, with Bill Maynard), "Tripper's Day" (1984, with Leonard Rossiter)and The Beer Hunter Minder Episode 1980 (with Dennis Waterman, George Cole). A notable television role  was that of Annie, wife of a burglar (Bob Hoskins) who comes out of prison to find that his old friend (John Thaw) has moved in, in "Thick As Thieves" (1974)". On stage, she later appeared in "Stepping Out", and was a regular performer at the Players' Theatre in London.