Kathy Staff, born Minnie Higginbottom on 12th July 1928, at 243, Astley Street, Dukinfield, Cheshire, England, UK was an actress, well known for her work on British TV, being most famous for her portrayal of Nora Batty on the longest running sitcom in the world, Last of the Summer Wine, on the BBC. Minnie played Nora from the pilot episode during 1973, although in the pilot and first series, she was referred to as Mrs. Batty, until 2008, when she died from a brain tumour. Shortly after the death of actor Bill Owen on 12th July 1999, Kathy's 71st birthday, she left the show briefly. Staff stated in interviews that things just weren't the same since his passing, her heart not being in it any more but she later returned, remaining with the show until her death, after 243 episodes, screened in 26 countries.