WARM tributes were paid yesterday to an internationally-known figure who lit up a corner of the North-East on annual visits.

Residents and students joined civic and public figures from across the region to celebrate the life of Sir Peter Ustinov, at Durham Cathedral.

The memorial service commemorated the life of the actor, film director, writer and raconteur, who was Durham University's tenth chancellor.

Sir Peter was a popular figure during visits to Durham City to confer degrees at ceremonies at both the castle and cathedral, as well as performing a host of other duties.

The service was arranged by the university following his death in March, at the age of 82.

Sir Peter's widow, Lady Helene Ustinov, travelled from her home in Switzerland, and was joined in the packed cathedral congregation by their sculptor son, Igor, also from Switzerland, and daughter Andrea, an artist and designer now living in Spain.

Another daughter, Tamara, and her actor husband Malcolm Rennie, gave a personal tribute by performing an extract from one of Sir Peter's plays, The Love of Four Colonels.

His third daughter, Pavla, was unable to attend due to work commitments.

Members of the congregation arriving at the cathedral were entertained with video clips from some of Sir Peter's films, while the service featured eulogies by the Dean of Durham, the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, university vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman, and Professor Sue Scott, principal of the recently renamed Ustinov College, formerly the university's Graduate Society.

The dean said: "It is so very good to honour a very great and good man."

Later, the Allegri String Quartet gave a concert of Sir Peter's favourite music, in Elvet Methodist Church, Durham City, and the Bede Film Society held a film evening in his honour, at the city's Hild and Bede College.

An exhibition of documents and photographs relating to Sir Peter is also being staged as part of the celebrations of his life.

My Chancellor, which includes an award-winning Northern Echo photograph, taken by former staff photographer Mike Urwin, is on show at the university's Palace Green Library, until November 21.