EVERYONE had to agree with Morecambe's favourite comedian Albert Modley when he said "EEEEEEEEHHH! isn't it grand when you're daft!"

They also had to agree that he was the daftest, and the grandest of them all.

And they still do. That's why - after the statue to Eric Morecambe was erected last month - a plaque is to be erected to Albert at his last Morecambe home on the seafront.

Albert Modley, born in 1901, belonged to a different era of comedians. An era when comedians weren't as cool but were a lot more popular.

He was known as Morecambe's Ambassador because he always mentioned the town on his many radio appearances. He first came to live here in 1932 when he was making a name for himself and he never left, spurning the chance to move to London.

It's hard to remember just what a big name Modley was in the war and post war years. He appeared in a number of films including Up for the Cup. In later years he appeared in the Alan Bennett TV plays about life in holiday resorts including Sunset Over The Bay and All On The Sands. He also topped the bill at a Royal Command Performance.

But Morecambe people over a certain age will remember him best as a funny man who made them laugh.

"I get people coming in all the time who remember him," said his grand-daughter Debbie who has recently opened a new restaurant on the seafront named after the man himself.

"He would go to the doctors and have everyone rolling about laughing in the waiting room. The doctor would come out and everyone would be gone because they felt better for a good laugh. It was all clean stuff in those days though."

Debbie's restaurant is a monument to her grandad and the comedians of that generation and has been a major success. "I've got messages from today's comedians who were just young lads when my grandad was doing the rounds.

"As well as Jim Bowen I've a message from Bob Monkhouse that says 'eeeeeehhhhh, isn't it grand when you're daft - from a man who loved your grandpa,' and one from Ken Dodd that says 'I remember your wonderful grand-dad. he was the greatest ad libber ever.' Apparently they didn't mind him ad libbing on the radio because he was always clean.

"But the best quotes come from the people who come in who remember him. They really loved him."

No doubt the love of the people of Morecambe is the tribute old Albert would have enjoyed the most.

The plaque to Albert will be unveiled on Saturday, September 18.

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