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Emmerdale and Family At War star Coral Atkins has sadly passed away, aged 80.
Newbury Today reports that the actress and child welfare campaigner died on Friday morning (December 9) following a short battle with cancer.
She was best known for her role as Sheila Ashton in 1970s drama Family At War and played Ruth Jameson in Emmerdale in 1993. Atkins also starred in the likes of The Avengers and Deadline Midnight.
"She was a remarkably powerful character," said her son Harry Whitehead. "She was completely fearless as she faced the end of her days...There's no tragedy in an 80-year-old woman dying."
In 1971, Atkins set up a home for disadvantaged children in Newbury and later set up another home in Gloucestershire, caring for a total of 37 children.
"It never stopped being a battle from start to finish. When she decided to set up the home she had no university education and no experience in child care," Whitehead explained.
"She went on a child psychology course in Manchester and then moved back to where she grew up to set up the home. She had to battle for funds and also against social services, who wanted to move children on continuously."
The Coral Atkins Children's Home at Crossways closed in 1996 and its story was told in ITV's Seeing Red, starring Sarah Lancashire, which aired in 2000.
Atkins is survived by her son and two grandchildren.
Newbury Today reports that the actress and child welfare campaigner died on Friday morning (December 9) following a short battle with cancer.
She was best known for her role as Sheila Ashton in 1970s drama Family At War and played Ruth Jameson in Emmerdale in 1993. Atkins also starred in the likes of The Avengers and Deadline Midnight.
"She was a remarkably powerful character," said her son Harry Whitehead. "She was completely fearless as she faced the end of her days...There's no tragedy in an 80-year-old woman dying."
In 1971, Atkins set up a home for disadvantaged children in Newbury and later set up another home in Gloucestershire, caring for a total of 37 children.
"It never stopped being a battle from start to finish. When she decided to set up the home she had no university education and no experience in child care," Whitehead explained.
"She went on a child psychology course in Manchester and then moved back to where she grew up to set up the home. She had to battle for funds and also against social services, who wanted to move children on continuously."
The Coral Atkins Children's Home at Crossways closed in 1996 and its story was told in ITV's Seeing Red, starring Sarah Lancashire, which aired in 2000.
Atkins is survived by her son and two grandchildren.
