Hi-de-hi! star never owned pub

Valerie Salmons, who opened the Pastures with husband Geoff and business partners Michael and Robin Chappell, quashed rumours that the former Hi-de-Hi! actor, who died last month, had ever part-owned the business.

“I don’t know where that story came from,” said Valerie. “All I can think is that if someone asked Shaney if he owned the place, he probably would have said yes for a joke.

“He gave up drinking when he packed in smoking so he mainly drank coffee but he used to come in for the company.”

Valerie, of Harlington, previously ran Old Denaby’s Manor Farm pub and said Paul “followed” her and Geoff when they opened the Pastures.

A friend of the comic actor for more than 20 years, Valerie said she and her husband had been abroad when Paul died aged 72 last month and were home just in time for the funeral, which she said was “a lovely service, the perfect send-off”.