Comic Sludge's funeral details announced

Tributes have flooded in to the star who died this week aged 74, just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

Yesterday, his son Tom Mills said his funeral would take place at St Mary’s Church in Cannock on August 30, at 11.30am.

The service, which is open to the public, will be followed by a private cremation at Bushbury Crematorium.

A wake, open to the public, will be held at Molineux Stadium’s WV1 Suite.

Mr Mills said: "We would like to invite everyone who knew dad or who wishes to pay their respects to dad to St Mary’s and also the Molineux afterwards.

"Dad spent his life performing to large crowds, making them laugh and I know he would have wanted his funeral to be a celebration of his life with lots in attendance."

'Sludge' was born and grew up in Cannock.

He first appeared as a singing act at pubs in the town aged just 10 before joining bands in the region.

In the 1970s he changed his career path to become a comedian, and appeared on televisions shows such as New Faces and Tiswas.

In 1992, he became part of Granada TV’s The Comedians.

He then toured the Midlands circuit for the next 26 years.

Fan John Lowman started a group on Facebook in appreciation of the comedian nine years ago.

He said: “I first met Ian in the late 70s and quickly spotted what a nice warm person he was.

“I saw him perform many times and my friends and I socialised with him after his shows, often at The Oakley Country club in Brewood where Ian would call in late for a drink after shows.

“I thought he was as funny off-stage as on as he told us his latest gags with great enthusiasm.

“In fact it didn’t matter if he was performing on-stage to five hundred or a couple of mates at a bar he would give it 100 per cent every time, he really enjoyed making people happy with his humour.”