It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of comedian and entertainer Joe Goodman (Joey Cotterill), aged 75, one of Laindon and Dunton’s famous characters.
Joe as we know was abandoned outside a Laindon shop (possibly Churchill Johnsons) and raised by a foster mother in Dunton Plotlands. He never forgot his roots and regularly returned to Dunton or Laindon whenever there was a reunion, where he would entertain us with his quick fire one liners and his up-bringing in Dunton.
In addition to being one of Britain’s best comedians, he was also a very talented artist, he also loved working in his garden, were he came up with some fantastic displays. After years of talking about it, he finally produced his autobiography ‘Is Anybody Out There?’ which he was particularly proud of. He opened our Website launch back in March 2011 and the previous September he opened the St Nicholas Church Festival ‘Laindon’s got Talent’. One of his last shows was at the Cliffs Pavilion back in April where many of his friends from Laindon attended.
His wife Maureen and family members were with him during his final hours when he was in an induced coma, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey. He leaves three daughters, a son and ten grandchildren. Our sympathies go out to them all.
He will be sadly missed, but he will always be known as ‘Our Joe’.
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I had the privelege of not only to work at Pontins’ Selsey Bill with Joe Goodman, but to become his friend. We always shared a game of snooker after breakfast, won a few quid off fa chester barnes tip. I accompanied him one night in his car to Hayling Island to a gig at Warners’ Sunshine before it became Mill Rythe. That is what epitomises Joe, a ray of sunshine, I hope you enjoyed my company as much as I enjoyed yours, special times Joe and thank you for being a part of my life. God bless you Joe, I see you every night when I close my curtains, the twinkle in your eye shines bright in the sky.
I was stunned to learn of Joe’s passing, as I had tremendous pleasure of meeting him on a visit to the Manor Mission with my sister Marlene and even photographing them together.
RIP Joe and Thank you.
Would love to receive the “One liners” by Joe Goodman.
Editor: Due to Joe’s death and demand for his book we are temporarily unable to obtain copies. I am told that there are plenty of copies published and all those who have requested copies through the Archive will be able to purchase a copy in the near future.
One of Joe’s many and proud achievements in the world of show-business was to be invited to join the prestigious ranks of those who belong to The Grand Order of Water Rats, a charitable organisation whose aim is to assist members of the theatrical profession, or their dependents, who are in need.
Joe’s talents didn’t stop short of his performance skills, as mentioned in Ken’s tribute, he was an accomplished artist and if you are passing by the ‘The Water Rats Theatre Bar in Gray’s Inn Road, London, look up and you will see the striking pub sign that he created for the GOWR Headquarters or better still why not go in and raise a glass to ‘Our Joe’
This link will take you to the ‘Grand Order of Water Rats’ website and tribute. http://www.gowr.net/index.html
I join all the others who were very sad to hear about my old classmate Joe. For the last two years of our school life he sat directly behind me and I witnessed the embryonic comedian emerging from the chrysalis of a boy who didn’t have much in the way of worldly possessions but who had a fine sense of fun and a ready wit. What a success he made of his life.
I was so pleased to see him in 2011 after a gap of 56 years. I am at present re-reading his book.
So sad to hear the news of the passing of Joe Goodman.
A true gentleman and someone who Laindoners can be proud of. Many articles and comments on the site already, so will just say:-
Rest in peace JOE.
So sorry to read of the passing of our Joe. He brought us so much fun with his own brand of jokes. He was so faithful and proud of his roots here. Rest in peace Joe.
Rest in Peace Joe, very sad news. I’ve only got to know about you this year through your autobiography and saw you at the Admiral’s Room, Cliffs Pavilion, but I was very impressed and could tell that many who knew you, loved you xx
Joe will be sadly missed by all at the Dunton Reunion and many of us who had the pleasure of hearing him reminisce about his life in Dunton told as never to be forgotten amusing stories.
Joe spent many of his childhood years at our house during and after the war. He was great mates with my brother Peter and they were the same age, a funny, likeable lad whom our parents liked a lot.
One day he and Mrs Thomas moved away and we never saw him again until my visit to England in 2012 when he turned up with scores of others at a mini reunion at the Manor Mission Hall in Laindon. It was so good to see him again and he was instantly recognisable, he hadn’t changed much in over 50 years. He soon had me laughing with his quick wit as we reminisced about our past, he remembered things I had forgotten, it was like we had never lost touch.
So sad to hear of his passing, my deepest sympathy to his wife and family and many, many friends. Laindon’s history has lost another of its greats, RIP, Joey, keep ’em laughing wherever you are.
From Ken and Peter Page in Australia.
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