The late Norman Wisdom was an “extremely friendly and courteous” client, according to Betty Hubbard, the then branch manager of the Ramsgate branch of Parkinson Staff Bureau, the former name for multi-sector staffing firm HR GO Recruitment.

In the 1960s, Parkinson Staff Bureau were charged with finding the comic legend and film star who died on Monday, aged 95, a personal assistant.

Hubbard shared with her fond memories with Jack Parkinson, HR GO chairman. Parkinson says: “As I am sure we can all imagine, he was a very different to the usual clients on their books but it was a very easy job to find candidates interested in becoming his personal assistant.

“He was extremely friendly and courteous to all of the branch team and always had a joke with them. He even had Betty modelling his trademark tweed cap — of course askew and peak turned up.”