George Roper was a cousin to the British jazz singer Jeannie Bradbury.
13 Facts About George Roper
1.
2.
George Roper left school at the age of fifteen to join the Merchant Navy as a galley boy, then as steward.
3.
George Roper married Linda Groves in December 1968, and they had three children: Nicholas, Louise and Matthew.
4.
George Roper was encouraged by the music hall comedian Sandy Powell.
5.
George Roper's jokes were clean, inoffensive and were usually centred on "wellies".
6.
George Roper later made a number of notable television appearances including The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, Celebrity Squares, At Long Last, This and The Grumbleweeds.
7.
George Roper was still in demand in clubs and in summer shows.
8.
George Roper could be seen as a contributor to documentaries including Heroes of Comedy.
9.
George Roper appeared regularly in the Spanish resort of Benidorm, sharing the headline spot at the Talk of the Town with jazz musician Eric Delaney.
10.
George Roper frequently performed for expatriates in Hong Kong and the Middle East.
11.
George Roper toured Australia several times, where The Comedians made him a star.
12.
George Roper died of cancer in 2003 at the age of 69.
13.
George Roper's funeral was attended by many figures from the world of comedy and sport, including Ricky Tomlinson, Ken Dodd, Frank Worthington, Tommy Docherty and all of his contemporaries from The Comedians.