TRIBUTES have been paid to John Scott Martin, who enjoyed a very varied acting career.

His performance credits include Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, Z Cars, Little Shop of Horrors and Ali G Indahouse.

Not to mention his role as chief dalek in Doctor Who – a part he played over 110 times.

Mr Martin died after battling Parkinson’s disease. His funeral was at St Giles Church, Great Maplestead.

Born in Toxteth, Liverpool, on April Fools Day, 1926, Mr Martin had many roles before and after the two decades he spent as a dalek.

Before acting, he served with the Gordon Highlanders in Holland and Germany.

Other acting highlights include treading the boards in London’s West End in shows such as Kismet, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof and The Streets of London.

More recently, he appeared in a 118 118 advert and his final part was as Rico Vivaldi, in the dark BBC comedy series, Mine All Mine, in 2004, in which he played Griff Rhys Jones’s father.

His widow, Margaret, said: “He had a very varied career and was very fortunate. He called himself a jobbing actor but it was an art in itself with all the different parts he performed.”

The couple moved to Church Street, Great Maplestead, about 33 years ago, from Maida Vale, West London.

Away from acting, Mr Martin, 82, spent a considerable time as a governor of St Giles Primary School in the village, and about 20 years as church warden at St Giles Church, near his home.

Margaret said: “He was amazingly stoic. His voice began to go, which concerned him considerably as he was a great orator – always the life and soul of the party.

Mrs Martin said her husband was treated with respect and kindness by staff, including Dr Symington, at Halstead Hospital, where he spent the last month of his life.