Memory of comic Ayli lives on

Jun 27 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

THE widow of Black Country comic John "Ayli" Plant sheds a silent tear as she remembers the man who brought laughter to audiences across the Midlands for two decades.

Linda Plant said the memory of her husband Ayli, alongside Alan Smith's Aynuk for more than 20 years, would live on.

John, aged 54, of Hockley Lane, Netherton, died on November 21after a short illness, closing a much loved chapter in Black Country humour.

Hundreds of fans turned out in force to honour Aynuk and Ayli comedian John in the way he liked best by having a good laugh at a special memorial show in March at Wolverhampton's Dunstall Suite.

The show, with a host of entertainers performing free, raised more than £4,000 and now Linda has used the bulk of the money to buy an impressive marble headstone for his grave at Gornal Wood Cemetery, near Dudley.

The headstone is inscribed with the words Treasured Memories of a Dear Husband and Dad, David John Plant. Forever Remembered as Ayli.

Linda, aged 54, told how she and John were teenage sweethearts and had been together for 40 years.

"We were married for 35 years but were together for five years before then," she said. "Everyone loved John, both as a person and a performer. I remember he used to come in after a show and say 'Lou, we really slayed 'em tonight'.

"He loved being on stage alongside Alan and we all miss him terribly," added Linda, who has a daughter, Katie, aged 25 and a son, James, aged 23.

Linda said she could never thank people enough for all they had done since John's death.

"The people who performed at the memorial show were all marvellous and the audience was great as well," she added.

Alan 'Aynuk' Smith, who will be 70 in October and has carried on performing solo since the death of his sidekick, said: "It was a pleasure to organise the memorial show for John."