Tributes paid to resort favourite Joy Beverley - the Posh of her day

Joy and her sisters Teddie and Joy were regular visitors to Blackpool during their extensive entertainment career.

A family friend confirmed Beverley, 91, died on Monday after she reportedly suffered a stroke last week.

Her son, Vince, 67, said: “We all thought the world of her and we are devastated she is gone. We are a very close-knit family.”

“She was a very bubbly, but private, character.”

“We are all going to miss her terribly, she has been a part of our lives for so long now it really is going to be a big loss for all of us.”

Described as the Posh and Becks of the day, she was married to star footballer and England captain, Billy Wright.

Wright, won 100 caps, died of pancreatic cancer in 1994.

Born in Bethnal Green, the sisters, of whom Joy was the eldest, landed a campaign for Ovaltine to star as “Bonnie Babies” in their Second World War adverts and their career took off from there. Columbia Records signed them in 1951, and their contract led to them becoming the highest paid female act of their time.

Their hits included I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Bye Bye Love, Sisters and Always and Forever.

They first appeared in Blackpool on a Palace Theatre variety bill in October 1950 with comedian Billy Russell and singer Lester Ferguson.

They starred in Lawrence Wright’s 1953 One With The Show at the North Pier and were described by Gazette reviewer Bill Burgess as “Sunny personalities dressed with distinction, who brought to close harmony a grace gaiety and sure sense of style.”

They had just been to the USA and had their own British TV show which lasted seven years.

AFter topping the bill at the Palace in July 1954 for a week, they gave up a holiday to return to help out at the Hippodrome when George Formby pulled out of his show Turned Out Nice Again.

They starred at the Queen’s Theatre in Aces High in 1956 but subsequent visits were in one off Sunday variety shows.

Their career took off once more in the 80s and were seen at the Live From Her Majesty’s at the Opera House in 1985, at the Grand Theatre’s Festival of Fun and Music in 1987 and in 1997 were in Christmas Cabaret at the Norbreck Castle Hotel.

They appeared many times in The Gazette, opening various establishments in the resort such as the Savoy Bowl, enjoying horse riding at St Annes and charity events.