'I wish she knew how much she made people laugh': Tributes flood in for 'hilarious' Stockport 'icon' famed for karaoke antics

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Tributes have flooded in following the tragic death of a 'hilarious' Stockport 'icon' and 'local celebrity' famed for her karaoke antics.

Claire Diffley, who had learning disabilities, passed away on January 13 after being admitted to Stepping Hill Hospital. She died after contracting pneumonia, and developing asthma obesity and a pulmonary embolism, her cousin said.

The 50-year-old was well known throughout Stockport for 'making everyone smile' and as the 'life and soul of the 192 bus', with videos shared online of her rapping and singing about her disability, including at the popular Chestergate pub and on Youtube.

Her cousin Ivan, one of her last living relatives, told the M.E.N. that Claire, who had suffered a lack of oxygen at birth and developed a learning disability, 'never let it get her down' and was 'always laughing and joking'. "She was sharp as a tap was our Claire," he said. "She was very astute and always knew how to look after herself.