A service and thanksgiving for the great entertainer of Roly Polys fame Maureen ‘Mo’ Moreland was held at Lytham Park Crematorium yesterday (Thursday 18th January). The service was organised by a dear friend of Mo – Tracy Dawson. Celebrant for the service was locally-based radio presenter Hayley Kay. Heartfelt tributes have been paid to Mo from Jimmy Cricket, Charlotte Dawson & Samantha Southern. Jimmy said after the service, “What a celebration this morning as we paid our respects to the great performer/comedian/dancer/singer Maureen Moreland, aka Mo, from the Roly Polys. Our thanks to family friends of Mo, Tracey, Sam and Charlotte Dawson who helped us give her a great send off! ♥️xx.”
Mo passed away last month following a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Mo was best known as the lead dancer in the comedy dance troupe The Roly Polys, devised by late comedian Les Dawson. Their success took them across the world to perform, including travelling to France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Italy and Japan in their 20-year career. Mo also appeared in Coronation Street, as well as on the Little and Large Show, and Super Gran. She was also a regular guest on TV shows such as Blankety Blank, Bullseye and Game for a Laugh.
In 1992 Mo was the subject of a This Is Your Life tribute presented by Michael Aspel. Stars who lined up to pay their tributes included Les Dawson, Su Pollard, Bernie Clifton, Ruth Madoc, Frank Bruno, The Krankies, Little and Large, Lionel Blair, Paul Shane, John Nettles and Rula Lenska.
