Teddie Beverley, the last surviving member of the famous singing trio, the Beverley Sisters, has died at the age of 99.
Her death was announced by British composer TY Jeffries in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
Jeffries described her as “beautiful, talented and kind” and said the trio would be fondly remembered for their successful careers and lasting impact on British entertainment.
“Goodbye to my very cherished friend, beautiful, talented, kind Teddie Beverley. The Beverley Sisters are now all together again,” he wrote.
“Great women! Such fabulous careers! They were a huge part of my life and the lives of many of us of a certain age. Teddie will be very much missed and always remembered. My deepest sympathies to Sasha, Babette, Vincent, Francesca, Kelly and Emily.”
In the 1950s, the Beverley Sisters were a popular vocal group known for their numerous appearances on radio, television and stage variety shows.
Teddie, her twin sister Babs, and their older sister Joy were among the biggest stars in British show business during the 1950s and 1960s.
Their hit songs included I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Little Drummer Boy, How Much Is That Doggie in the Window and Little Donkey, all of which reached the UK Top 20.
Their career began when photographer Jock Ware heard them sing during an audition for an Ovaltine advertisement.
He recommended them to BBC producer Cecil Madden, who became their manager and gave them the name Beverley Sisters.
They went on to become household names and, by some accounts, Britain’s highest-paid female entertainers. They were also the first British girl group to achieve success in the United States.
In 2002, Guinness World Records recognised them as the world’s longest-surviving vocal group without a change in line-up. In 2006, all three sisters were appointed MBEs.
They were also known for their matching outfits and signature blonde curls.
Joy died in 2015 and Babs in 2018, both at the age of 91.
Teddie married British water-skiing champion Peter Felix in 1959. They divorced in 1972, and she married property developer Donald Cottage in 1973. He predeceased her. She is survived by a daughter from her first marriage.
