SINGER Alvin Stardust, a star with many south Essex connections, died yesterday after after a short battle with cancer.

The 72-year-old Seventies pop star was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer earlier this year.

The singer and actor had many links to Essex and was sometimes seen in the cafe at Wickford station, which was said to be run by his mother, or his aunt, according to local legend.

Born Bernard Jewry, in London, in 1942, he enjoyed pop success in the early Sixties under the name Shane Fenton, reaching number 22 in the charts with I’m a Moody Guy.

In the Seventies, he reinvented himself as Alvin Stardust and enjoyed a string of hits, including My Coo Ca Choo, Red Dress and his only number 1, Jealous Mind.

He went on to take on acting and presenting roles, appearing in TV shows such as Hollyoaks, Hi Di Hi! and Doctors and stage musicals including the Rocky Horror Show and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

In 2004 the singer was back in south Essex to launch the Pride of Essex Awards, returning three years later to appear at the Cliffs Pavillion, in Westcliff, in the musical, Boogie Nights.

In his later years, Stardust lived in Billingshurst, West Sussex, and was still performing until recently, as well as working on a new album which is due out next month.

Manager Andy Davies said: “Alvin and I had only started working together over the past couple of years, because he and I believed musically, he still had a great deal to give and explore.

“I may not have known him long, but even in that short time, he proved to be one of the most genuine and likeable men I’ve ever met. His passing is a huge and sad loss.”

! Do you remember Alvin’s Wickford days? If so email your memories to megan.french@nqe.com