Worthing funeral honours West End and television star Sheila Mathews

Around 200 friends and former theatrical and television colleagues attended the funeral of West End and TV performer Sheila Mathews at Worthing Crematorium. Kingswood Chapel was packed to capacity for the service, which featured photographs and recordings from her long career as a singer, dancer and actor.

Miss Mathews died on August 11 aged 99 at Cavell House Nursing Home in Shoreham, after spending several weeks at Worthing Hospital.

Her career began at the age of three at Alexandra Palace and later included appearances at the London Palladium, West End productions and television roles including Crossroads and The Good Old Days.

The funeral included contributions from actor Richard Frost and theatre director and choreographer Johnny Worthy, with the eulogy delivered by Brighton actor Tony Jackson.

A reception hosted by Miss Mathews’s daughter Sally Reading at Findon Manor included a further musical and photographic tribute to her career.