ON THIS DAY: We lost South Yorkshire consummate showstopper and charity champion Marti Caine

November 4 1995 saw end of an era as show biz mourned 50-year-old singer comedienne Marti Caine, who died within hours of 68-year-old Paul "Jim Hacker" Eddington.

As a tribute to the passing of one of our area's most engaging personalities, who effortlessly combined disarming charm with northern grit, we reflect (soundtracked by duet with South Yorkshire celebrity contemporary Tony Christie) on dimming of one of our brightest stars.

Marti Caine experienced the highs and lows of life before her untimely death aged 50 in November 1995, undoubtedly proving great creative energy and success can emerge from adversity.

She was an actress, dancer, presenter, singer, writer and comedienne, later becoming a household name with the television talent show New Faces.

Her memory now lives on as a shining example of courage and determination.

Born Lynne Denise Shepherd on January 26, 1945 - almost 71 years ago - in Jessop Hospital, her family initially lived in a council prefab at Dore.

Following a move some months later to Shiregreen, she started going to Sally Carmichael’s dancing class in Wincobank.

Marti was one of the Sunbeams - and only 18 months old. She used to try and tap dance, but mainly messed about.

At the age of four or five, her first leading role on the stage was one of the babes in the panto Babes in the Wood.

Marti was already clowning around and making her chums laugh as well as enjoying showing off on stage.

She would only sing in the chorus, never on her own, as she was far too frightened.

Her paternal grandfather gave her bags of encouragement and was very ambitious for her, envisaging a successful stage career.

Then it all went wrong.

Her father died aged 28 when Marti was only seven. Her mother was devastated and they went to live in Scotland.

Matters deteriorated when her mother became dependent on sleeping tablets and Marti was taken into an orphanage for a couple of weeks.

Hating the place, Marti ran away and was found in Carlisle.

Returning to Sheffield, she was reunited with her doting grandfather and Sally Carmichael.

She attended Beck Road Juniors and her mother returned to Sheffield with a new husband, living in a house in Plymouth Road, Abbeydale. Marti lived with them sometimes, but mostly stayed with her grandparents.

Always a clown at school, Marti wanted to hide behind a character and often pulled funny faces to make other children like her.

Failing the eleven-plus at Carterknowle, she attended Totley Church of England School.