THE popular entertainer Ted Rogers, who died last week, is fondly remembered by all who knew him in the town.
Mr Rogers (65) died of heart failure on May 2, in a London hospital, after being taken ill at his home the week before.
He was the star turn at many local school fetes and although in constant demand, he very rarely turned down the chance of helping local organisations.
In the early 1990s when he was still well known for his 3-2-1 catchword and his equally famous essential accessory Dusty Bin, he opened one of the first Haslemere Charter Fairs in the town.
He also helped King Edward VII Hospital in Midhurst with its charity work and was a keen supporter of Mencap.
"Everyone who knew him fell in love with him," said friend of 40 years Terry Hanlon.
Forced to start a new life following the scrapping of the popular ITV show in 1988, Mr Hanlon said that Ted Rogers moved to the local area, partly to be closer to Cowdray and his passion for polo and to be closer to his friend.
A member of the Royal Blues at Ambersham Polo Academy at Cowdray, Mr Rogers was also a keen golfer and in his youth played football for South London .
"He was closer than a brother to me and was full of help for other people and never took anything in return," said Mr Hanlon.
Coming from a poor family background in Kennington, Mr Rogers started on his show business career when as a young boy he fell in love with Danny Kaye and even named his 12-year-son Daniel after him.
"From that moment on, that was all he wanted to do," said Mr Hanlon.
By the age of 15 he had won a holiday camp talent contest with an impersonation of Danny Kaye and when he finished his National Service in the RAF became a Butlin's redcoat.
"He had a wonderful ability and never used anyone else's material. 3-2-1 didn't do him justice really," said Mr Hanlon.
He worked with many big American stars including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Shirley Bassey and if he had gone to America he would have been a huge star himself," said Mr Hanlon.
Married twice, Ted Rogers was a devoted family man.
"He never spent money on beer, bookmakers or tobacco. He spent it all on his family," said his friend.
"Ted had a magic quality and we will never see the like of him again."
Ted Rogers leaves his second wife Marion, son Daniel, daughter Canna (15) two daughters from his first marriage and four grandchildren.
A private funeral took place in Ascot this week and Mr Rogers was buried next to his mother and father.