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3:54pm Monday 6th July 2009
A star-studded audience turned out to remember actress Wendy Richard as a plaque was unveiled in her memory.
Are You Being Served? creator David Croft pulled the rope to reveal The Heritage Foundation plaque at the Shepherds Tavern, the London pub which Richard's parents used to run.
Richard, who died in February after a long battle with cancer, was well known for playing the sexy Miss Brahms in the department store sitcom.
She went on to become a national institution as Pauline Fowler in EastEnders.
The foundation's president, singer Robin Gibb, said: "Wendy was a great British actress.
"Particularly in America she had a tremendous impact.
"Are You Being Served? in particular was on every single night on TV. For 40 years, every night."
Todd Carty, who played Richard's son Mark in EastEnders, said: "She meant the world to me, like a second mum, my best friend. She knew me from a very young age. We hit it off from the first minute."
Natalie Cassidy, who played Sonia in the BBC soap opera, said Wendy was a "true gem".
"As an actress Wendy taught me everything I know. She was very, very strict. She knew her character back to front, inside out. She knew Pauline, she created it," she said.
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