February DOTK

who was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to the acting profession in 1983.

In 1993, Thora was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She received the Pye Female Comedy Star Award in 1984 and a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award in 1988.

Dame Thora’s career spans ninety years beginning at eight weeks old to her current starring role on the BBC television series, The Last of the Summer wine.

This staunch Methodist has been chosen to present such popular religious programs in the UK as Songs of Praise, Praise Be and Hallelujah. Her favorite was the hymn request series Praise Be! Another of her favorite roles over the years is the character she played in “Hallelujah!” Salvation Army Captain Emily Ridley.

“There’s not a special moment when I could say I found God: He’s always been there. For me, religion isn’t just about keeping on the straight and narrow. It’s much more about kind hearts, laughter, and loving, joyous moments.”

“I used to think my Uncle Robert looked like Jesus because he had a white beard. But when I got to about 11 and thought about it more seriously, I said to my mother, "Jesus doesn’t really look like Uncle Robert, does he?" And my mother, a very wise lady and the saint of our street, took my face in her hands, and said, "Who says he doesn’t?"

‘I’m so grateful to God for all his blessings . . . I’ve always talked to God, even when I’m going down the street.”

Dame Thora has written several books: autobiography called Scene and Hird, the Praise Be Notebook, Praise Be Year Book, Praise Be Christmas Book, Praise Be Book of Prayers, Praise Be I Believe, and most recently Nothing Like a Dame which includes her personal testimony.

“As time moves on like the waves on the seashore that I love to watch, I realise that there's no going back. I'm just hoping that the Good Lord is pleased with how I have used the talents he invested in me all those years ago." Dame Thora Hird

It is with both sadness and joy that we announce the departure from this world of Dame Thora Hird on the 15th of March 2003. She truly was a Daughter of the King of Kings and her citizenship has always been in Heaven.

Our loss of this great lady is overshadowed by the knowledge that she joins her beloved husband, “Scottie,” and that she will be receiving far more honor and glory at home with our Father than she ever did on this earth.