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Manning penned his own obituary Manning penned his own obituary
(30 minutes later)
Controversial comic Bernard Manning wrote his own obituary four months before his death.Controversial comic Bernard Manning wrote his own obituary four months before his death.
Manning, who died in hospital on Monday aged 76, defends himself against accusations of racism in the eulogy, published in the Daily Mail.Manning, who died in hospital on Monday aged 76, defends himself against accusations of racism in the eulogy, published in the Daily Mail.
He said the term racist was "just an easy, catch-all term of abuse bandied around by the media elite" against those who did not follow its "agenda".He said the term racist was "just an easy, catch-all term of abuse bandied around by the media elite" against those who did not follow its "agenda".
Manning added that he was a descendant of Jewish immigrants.Manning added that he was a descendant of Jewish immigrants.
He railed against critics such as the Commission for Racial Equality, who "forgot that the only point of jokes is to make people laugh".He railed against critics such as the Commission for Racial Equality, who "forgot that the only point of jokes is to make people laugh".
"Well, at least I won't be seeing any of the po-faced, politically-correct brigade where I'm going. I had quite enough of them in my lifetime," he wrote."Well, at least I won't be seeing any of the po-faced, politically-correct brigade where I'm going. I had quite enough of them in my lifetime," he wrote.
HAVE YOUR SAY Like him or loathe him there was no way of ignoring him Slog Onwards, UK Send us your comments Tributes have continued to come from those who admired Manning's comedy and his charity work.HAVE YOUR SAY Like him or loathe him there was no way of ignoring him Slog Onwards, UK Send us your comments Tributes have continued to come from those who admired Manning's comedy and his charity work.
'Working-class hero'
And his son Bernard Junior, 46, said on Tuesday that his father was a "working-class hero" who went out ofhis way to help others.
"I'm incredibly proud to be his son," he added.
"I won't have a bad word said against him - he was the best father a son could ever want."
"Whatever people said about him, he couldn't care less. He was just happy to be himself and spend his life helping people."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the comic's death was a "sad day" for the city.Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said the comic's death was a "sad day" for the city.
"In my 20 years in Manchester, there have been fewer people who contributed as much to Manchester life as Bernard," he said."In my 20 years in Manchester, there have been fewer people who contributed as much to Manchester life as Bernard," he said.
'Heavyweight'
"His generosity, time and personality touched everyone. I can say no more than he was a good friend to me and many, many more," he added."His generosity, time and personality touched everyone. I can say no more than he was a good friend to me and many, many more," he added.
Chef Marco Pierre White described Manning as "the funniest man in England".
Manning said he would have "the last laugh"Manning said he would have "the last laugh"
And Sir Cyril Smith, former Rochdale MP and friend of Manning, said: "Bernard was a heavyweight in more ways than one. A heavyweight to the literally hundreds of charitable causes that he supported all his life and raised thousands of pounds for. Sir Cyril Smith, former Rochdale MP and friend of Manning, said: "Bernard was a heavyweight in more ways than one. A heavyweight to the literally hundreds of charitable causes that he supported all his life and raised thousands of pounds for.
"Bernard was kind, generous, honest and straight and will be missed. He was often maligned and wrongly so.""Bernard was kind, generous, honest and straight and will be missed. He was often maligned and wrongly so."
Manning wrote in the obituary that he had decided what he would like written on his gravestone - engraved in very small letters so visitors would have to look closely to read it - "Get off! You're standing on my privates."Manning wrote in the obituary that he had decided what he would like written on his gravestone - engraved in very small letters so visitors would have to look closely to read it - "Get off! You're standing on my privates."
He spoke of his tough upbringing in Manchester - sharing a bed with his five siblings - and of his call-up to the army just as World War II ended.He spoke of his tough upbringing in Manchester - sharing a bed with his five siblings - and of his call-up to the army just as World War II ended.
'Undermined true comedy''Undermined true comedy'
"I was one of the armed guards watching over the Nazi hierarchy locked up in Spandau prison. For a 16-year-old, it was a bizarre experience, standing over the likes of Rudolf Hess and Albert Speer with a Bren gun," he wrote."I was one of the armed guards watching over the Nazi hierarchy locked up in Spandau prison. For a 16-year-old, it was a bizarre experience, standing over the likes of Rudolf Hess and Albert Speer with a Bren gun," he wrote.
Although evidently frustrated by being "barred from the airwaves" and his TV appearances being reduced in the 1980s, Manning said: "I wouldn't have changed any of it for a moment."Although evidently frustrated by being "barred from the airwaves" and his TV appearances being reduced in the 1980s, Manning said: "I wouldn't have changed any of it for a moment."
"And as I look down now on all the over-paid executives who have made such a mess of television and undermined true comedy, and as I sense the affection from the mass of the British public, I know that I am the one having the last laugh.""And as I look down now on all the over-paid executives who have made such a mess of television and undermined true comedy, and as I sense the affection from the mass of the British public, I know that I am the one having the last laugh."
His funeral is expected to take place on 26 June.