BERWICK Kaler has brightened up the York Christmas for 25 years.

Indeed, he is so much part of the York panto scene that it taxes the mind to wonder what happened before he arrived at York Theatre Royal.

Berwick himself never dreamed in 1977 that York would become such an important part of his life. This year, he was granted the freedom of the city, an honour well deserved for 25 years' worth of merry chuckles.

Updated: 10:02 Tuesday, November 18, 2003