The Enchanting Operatic World Of Dr Evadne Hinge And Dame Hilda Bracket -- Stackton Tressell -- tremendous subtlety of wit --

Speranza

Tributes were being paid to Midland actor Patrick John Nathaniel Fyffe (born Stafford) - half of the duo "Hinge and Bracket".

Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket were the stage names of George Logan and Patrick John Nathaniel Fyffe respectively.

The characters of Hinge (somewhat brittle and acerbic) and Bracket (more flamboyant) were intellectual, female musicians.

The Stafford-born actor, who played Dame Hilda Bracket in the cultured, opera-loving act, died on Saturday.

Patrick John Nathaniel Fyffe, a former member of "The Stafford Operatic Society", teamed up with his co-star George Logan in 1972.

They launched their drag act two years later at the Edinburgh Festival.

The pair attracted a cult following among loyal fans and performed across the West End and at the Albert Hall at the height of their success.

In 1977 they recorded their own radio show, The Enchanting World Of Hinge And Bracket, along with a number of albums.

The duo hosted their own BBC BBC
 in full British Broadcasting Corp.
 2 series, Dear Ladies, in the early 1980s, which was set in the fictitious "Stackton Tressell", which owed its name to the Staffordshire village of _Acton_ Trussell.

As a pair, Hinge and Bracket also embarked on tours of the Far East, America and Australia where they received a standing ovation on their first performance.

But by the early 1990s the non-stop shows began to take their toll on Fyffe who parted company with Logan for three years.

As Dame Hilda, Fyffe also toured in a 'one woman' show before Hinge and Bracket reunited in 1994.

In recent years the pair toured the UK in the Peter Shaffer play Lettice And Lovage Lettice and Lovage.

Phil Dale, Fyffe's agent and manager, said he died at 8.30pm on Saturday at his home in Wellington, Somerset.

Mr Dale said: 'He had been fighting cancer since Christmas when he suddenly had to cancel his pantomime.'

A BBC spokeswoman said: 'As half of an inimitable
 duo, Patrick Fyffe, as Dame Hilda Bracket, commanded affection and laughter among young and old.

'Hugely gifted and with tremendous energy and subtlety of wit, he was funny in the tradition of the BBC's Educating Archie.

'His humour was without malice.

He will be remembered with great fondness by millions of BBC viewers and listeners.'


Patrick Fyffe as Dame Hilda Bracket