TRIBUTES have been paid to an esteemed Leytonstone actor who has died at the age of 74.
Noel Collins, who was perhaps best known for his leading role as Sergeant George Parrish in 1980s police drama series Juliet Bravo, passed away on Monday (August 15) after a long battle with cancer.
Mr Collins, of Stanmore Road, appeared on stage and in numerous TV shows including Doctor Who and Play For Today until he retired at the age of 60 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Despite having a lung removed he battled against the illness and lived for nearly another 15 years more.
His changed attitudes to smoking led to him joining a £17million lawsuit in the 1990s with 52 other claimants against cigarette giants Gallaher and Imperial Tobacco.
Lawyers argued the companies had been negligent in not reducing the tar content in their cigarettes between 1957 and 1971 once it became obvious that smoking caused lung cancer.
But the case was dropped in March 1999 after a judge ruled that other claimants in eight test cases had launched their legal action outside the normal three-year period from when they were diagnosed with cancer.
His widow Helen Collins, 62, paid tribute to her husband's bravery in the face of his illness.
She said: “He was content in his life but also stoic during the bad times. He became very anti-smoking but he lived through his illness as best he could.
“Even in his last week he was still getting Juliet Bravo fan mail which he found amusing. He loved the theatre and really enjoyed his career, but without being pretentious or boastful.
“He was a lovely man and was always very kind.”
Mr Collins grew up in Middlesex and had two children from a previous marriage before moving to Leytonstone in 1987.
He played an active part in community life and was a member of the Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society.
His funeral will be at the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium on Thursday (August 25).
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