Coronation Street fans say goodbye to their beloved Betty

Coronation Street stars and fans packed a church yesterday to say goodbye to their beloved Betty Driver.

Betty Driver: Coronation Street stars say their goodbyes at actress' funeral

Actress Elizabeth Mary "Betty" Driver, 91, best known for her role as the Rovers Return's no nonsense barmaid Elizabeth "Betty" Williams (née Preston, previously Turpin) on Coronation Street for past 42 years died in hospital October 15, 2011.

Driver, who was cast as Betty in 1969, was successful cabaret singer in the 40s and 50s. She first auditioned for Coronation Street for the role of Hilda Ogden. She first arrived on the Street to help her sister Maggie Clegg run the corner shop and remained in the role of Betty continuously. She was the third-longest-serving cast member and while serving as the Rovers Return's longest-serving barmaid created the signature dish 'Betty's hotpot'.

In 1999 Driver told the Daily Mail that if she gave up the character she would die "within a month from sheer boredom".

In a 2006 interview with the Manchester Evening News. Guardian Media Group she said retirement was not in her plans, "From day one on The Street everyone has been very kind to me. In fact, I'm godmother to Bill Roache's son. So as long as they want me, I'm happy to stay. The Street is like home and they really are my family."

Bettys Hotpot
(To Serve 4)

Ingredients:
Three quarters of a kilogram each of neck of lamb and potatoes
A large onion
One and a half cups water
3 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 tablespoon of flour
1 bay leaf
Dash of Worcestershire Sauce

1. Brown the meat in a pan of very hot oil then set aside
2. Chop and fry the onion until it begins to brown
3. Sprinkle flour into the pan with the onions and stir to soak up the fat
4. Turn off the heat and add the water slowly while stirring vigorously to prevent lumps forming
5. Add a dash of Worcestershire Sauce, salt and pepper to taste
6. Mix the onion, meat and stock together and stir in a bay leaf
7. Alternate layers of meat and onion mix with thinly sliced potato in an ovenproof dish. The top layer should be potato.
8. Cover and bake at 325 F for 2 hours
9. Remove cover and continue to bake until the top layer of potato browns

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