June Marlow, the beloved television actress whose real name was Jean Dike, has died at the age of 95.
The performer passed away on February 22 at her Plymouth residence overlooking Sutton Harbour, with family members at her bedside.
Her death came just weeks after she marked her 95th birthday on January 15.
The actress had lived in her apartment for 35 years and spent her final weeks there, receiving care from St Luke's Hospice Plymouth whilst her daughter Kate Van Dike moved in to provide round-the-clock support.
June Marlow's family confirmed her death
|IMDB
Ms Marlow's family shared news of her passing through a Facebook announcement on The Van Dike Club page, the venue once run by her late husband Peter.
The actress built an impressive television career spanning decades, appearing in numerous BBC productions including adaptations of The Pickwick Papers and Jamaica Inn, as well as the children's series MI High alongside June Whitfield.
She became particularly recognisable to ITV audiences through her multiple appearances in Doc Martin, working opposite Martin Clunes.
Her final screen performance came at 87, when she portrayed Ethel, a patient who had injured her hand on a rusty nail.
Reportedly aware this would be her last role, she told her co-star: "If this is my swansong, then I'm more than happy it's with you, Martin."
Throughout her career, the Plymouth-born performer was celebrated as a dependable character actress with natural on-screen charm.
Ms Marlow was born on January 15, 1931 in Plymouth's tight-knit Barbican community, where her performing abilities emerged early.
Teachers at Castle Street Infants School quickly spotted her talents during school nativity plays, where she entertained classmates with songs and impressions of Hollywood stars such as Mae West.
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| At just 13, she made her first professional recording with the BBC Concert Orchestra, travelling alone by train from Plymouth to London and earning 15 guineas for the engagement.
Three years later, she appeared on ITV talent show Opportunity Knocks, hosted by Hughie Green.
Her professional journey led her to meet musician and photographer Peter Van Dike, who played double bass in a comedy band she toured with.
The couple married while on tour and remained together for 40 years until his death in 1988.
Kate Van Dike expressed profound gratitude for the hospice team's support, saying: "They treated Mum with such tenderness and acknowledged her as the most important person. We could never have cared for her at home without their help."
She described the nurses' visits as feeling like "the cavalry arriving" as her mother's condition worsened.
Despite her declining health, Jean remained characteristically forward-looking. "Mum didn't want to focus on that," Kate explained. "She kept looking forward and was always pragmatic and driven."
The family's announcement described her as "an ever loving and inspirational Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Mother in Law, a woman of unwavering strength, grace and dignity to the end."
Those closest to her remembered her warmth persisted until the very end. "Even at the end she was still able to flash her beautiful smile," Kate recalled.