TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Carlisle’s best known - and best loved -  entertainers following his death.

For decades, Stan McManus was a hugely popular and familiar face on the city's live entertainment scene. He spent more than 30 years as compere for the News & Star’s annual Community Concert, which was originally held at the Old Market Hall but more recently at The Sands.

With an irrepressible sense of fun and an inexhaustiable supply of jokes, Stan was a natural entertainer, able to connect with audiences and generate laughter and frivolity no matter what the occasion.

He was also a regular performer at the Stanwix Park Holiday Village in Silloth. Throughout his professional career, Stan regularly took to the stage to lend his support to charity concerts, helping to raise cash for numerous good causes.

David McNeill was formerly events manager with Newsquest's predecessor company in the county Cumbrian Newspapers Ltd, and he now runs the city’s successful StagedRight Youth Theatre.

He often worked with Stan.

"Stan was without doubt one of Carlisle's highest profile entertainers and delivered fun and cheer to thousands of people," he said.

“He was well known for not wanting to leave a stage and we had lots of fun trying to find ways of getting him off. We tried pulling his microphone lead, throwing him keys and asking him to lock up and even turning the stage lights out but Stan kept going as long as he had the audience laughing.

“He could sing, dance and had an endless supply of jokes. He would dress up each year as a different character and when time allowed, he would bring out his bubble gun and get the elderly audience singing 'I'm forever blowing bubbles.'

“Stan was a true gent and Carlisle legend.”

Among the many ways he has put his talent as an entertainer to positive use was a trip he made to Malta in 2009 to entertain Royal Navy veterans, who had all seen service on HMS Diana.

Commenting at the time, he said: “You meet some great characters at these reunions and strong friendships are forged.”

* A full obituary for Stan McManus will appear in a forthcoming edition of The Cumberland News.