CELEBRITIES were today lining up to pay tribute to one of Britain's best-known entertainment promoters.

Billie George, who died last week at the age of 84, ran Torquay-based Trevor George Entertainments Ltd with her husband, launching the careers of many top performers.

Joe Pasquale, Gary Wilmot and Michael Barrymore all started out as part of the Trevor George stable of young comedians.

Billie was born in the East End of London in 1925, and at the age of 15 she got her first taste of the entertainment world while working as an usherette at the Palace Theatre in Reading.

She later worked for a short time with film distributor British Lion, before becoming an actress at repertory company White Heather Productions.

She also worked as a film extra with stars such as Richard Attenborough, Stewart Granger, Patricia Roc and Diana Dors.

On May 27, 1947, Billie met semi-professional magician Trevor George. Both said it was 'love at first sight'.

They developed a famous mind-reading act, performing for royalty and Prime Ministers.

As their fame spread, they developed even more interpretations of it, resulting in a telepathy act from air to ground, with Billie flying at 1,500ft in a Tiger Moth aircraft above an audience of more than 7,000 people.

Their daughter Anne, who now runs Trevor George Entertainments Ltd, recalled: "She had an exceptional ability for writing scripts and teaching stage craft and how to present a cabaret act.

"Pantomime companies also sought her expertise for script writing. On her first reading rehearsals, she would sit the company down and, being an experienced actress, would read the entire script herself portraying each individual character."

Billie and Trevor formed Trevor George Entertainments in 1959, booking performers into theatres, and presenting summer shows and pantomimes in many parts of the UK.

Billie and Trevor had two daughters, Anne and Linda, and a son, David, as well as five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Anne said her mother enjoyed being around performers and nurturing their embryonic talent.

She added: "Mum and dad worked with many showbiz stars, and mum always took a personal interest in their wellbeing.

"Her home was open for all. Newcomers to the business frequently stayed while they were set on the road to success.

"She really was an incredible woman. Although she was very busy, we always had such special family times.

"She was always optimistic and bubbly and ready with a song — she loved a song. That carried on throughout her whole life, right up until a few weeks ago."

Her funeral will take place at St Mary The Virgin church in Church Road, St Marychurch, Torquay, this Friday at 2.15pm.