Ayli widow overwhelmed

Linda Plant, of Hockley Lane, Netherton, said: "I would just like to thank everyone has been so kind since John died." She added: "He would have been touched by how people held him close in their hearts."

She was speaking shortly before the funeral of her husband who was one half of the Black Country comedy duo Aynuk and Ayli.

Mourners paying their respects at the funeral of Black Country comedian Mr Plant, who played Ayli, spoke warmly of the "born entertainer" who always wanted to be a comedian. The vicar Canon Hilary Hanke opened the service by saying: "John Plant was someone who was very special to the Black Country, to its traditions and to its people and someone who was very special to his family and friends."

A moving tribute penned by Alan Smith, known as Aynuk, was read out by family friend Brian Roberts.

Mr Smith said he believed the pair would be reunited one day.

"We were blessed with the gift of being able to read each other's thoughts and bouncing off each other," he said. "He left me when there was so much left for us to do. I believe this life is only an overture for the real production and one day we will be reunited, not as Aynuk and Ayli but as Alan and John.

"We will have them dropping off the clouds."

The pair spent a lifetime making people laugh and during the service an anecdote was recited which had the congregation in stitches.

Lifelong friend Micky Rowe said he always knew Mr Plant would make a career of being on the stage.

"He was a genuinely funny man and was the most funny person I ever met. He could make a joke out of anything," he said.