A celebration of the life of Lois, daughter of Ulverston-born comedy legend Stan Laurel, is being held later this year so the Memories Page has been taking a look back at her links with the town.

Lois Laurel Hawes was the only daughter of Stan and died at the end of July, aged 89.

She would have been 90 in December and her California-based family plan to hold a memorial event.

The Mail on June 13 in 1979 recorded her first visit to Ulverston, to see the birthplace of her father and meet members of Laurel and Hardy appreciation group, the Sons of the Desert.

It noted: “The Sons were headed by Bill Cubin, who gave the daughter of one of the world’s funniest men a hearty welcome to Ulverston.

“She was swept off in a white vintage car to No. 3 Argyle Street, the house in which Stan was born.”

Stan’s daughter said: “It’s a real thrill to see it. I have seen pictures of it before but it is marvellous to be here.

“In San Fransisco the houses are joined together like this.

“I’ve planned to come here for many years as Ulverston meant a lot to him but things would come up.

“It was after I met Bill Cubin in Chicago that I decided to come.

“I am very proud of my father and I wouldn’t swap him for anyone.

“His comedy is more popular today than ever.

“He teamed up with Oliver Hardy and they just clicked.

“I think they both enjoyed comedy. It was well thought out and they worked very hard.”

Bill Cubin, founder of Ulverston’s Laurel and Hardy Museum, told the Mail in 1979: “I met Lois in Chicago last August at the first international conference of the Sons of the Desert.

“While she is here she is going to look for a site in Ulverston for an international conference to be held. We are hoping for one in 1984.

“She is a lovely person and very much involved in Sons of the Desert.”

Lois Laurel was married to actor Rand Brooks — who played Scarlett O'Hara's first husband, Charles, in Gone With the Wind and sidekick Lucky Jenkins in a series of Hopalong Cassidy films — and then to writer-actor Tony Hawes.

Her mother was the first of Laurel's four wives, silent-movie actress Lois Neilson.

Lois was born in Beverly Hills on December 10 in 1927 and frequently visited the film sets.

She appears uncredited in at least two Laurel & Hardy pictures, The Chimp (1932) and Swiss Miss (1938).

Stan Laurel was born as Arthur Stanley Jefferson in what was then called Foundry Cottages on June 16 in 1890.

Stan came home on Tuesday, May 27, in 1947, with screen partner Oliver Hardy and their wives to enjoy an Ulverston civic reception.

They all arrived at the Coronation Hall at 12.30pm in an open-topped car and were met by a huge crowd.

They waved to fans from the hall’s balcony and Stan was given a copy of his birth certificate.

This was followed by a civic lunch at the Golf Hotel, later Springfield Mansions.

Laurel and Hardy appeared in more than 100 short films and features, including the classics The Music Box (1932), Sons of the Desert (1933), Babes in Toyland (1934) and Way Out West (1937).

Laurel was 74 when he died in February 1965. He had retired from acting after Hardy's death in August 1957 at age 65.