10:28am Wednesday 18th February 2009
TV star Robson Green is mourning the death of his father who died suddenly last week at the age of 73.
From Ashington, Northumberland, the actor's father, also Robson, was a ballroom dancer, as well as a miner.
The funeral was at Whitley Bay Crematorium today where the Wire in the Blood star paid tribute.
In his speech, he said: "My dad was a coal miner and there is a whole concept of coal mining which is a culture unto itself.
"It is the most dangerous occupation in the world, which draws, develops and paints a certain kind of man. My dad was that man.
"For someone so big, my dad had style and grace and to have the privilege of watching my dad, a British champion dancer, was to witness his heart speaking and within a moment he became even larger, even more beautiful and even more powerful."
Over the years, Robson Jnr spoke fondly of his father.
The 44-year-old said: "I don't know how my mother and father managed to bring up four children on their wages.
"We had a decent roof over our head and I got a lot of help from them.
"I remember it would be 3am and my dad would be getting up to go to work."
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