Clare Rimmer, who has died aged 54, was an accomplished singer and actress who appeared on stage with many of the stars.

One of the highlights of her career was to be chosen as one of the original cast of Evita in London's West End, with David Essex and Elaine Paige.

She was the daughter of the Rev Paul Rimmer, former vicar of Old Marston, Oxford, and his wife Joan.

Miss Rimmer was educated at St Nicholas Primary School in Old Marston and Oxford High School for Girls.

It was the High School headmistress, Mary Warnock, now Baroness Warnock, who encouraged her to sing.

She spent four years at the Guildhall School of Music, then won a scholarship to study opera.

It wasn't long, however, before she decided to switch from opera to popular entertainment.

She was in San Francisco doing cabaret and jazz singing when she received a call from theatre producer Cameron McIntosh's office.

She cut short her three-month stint in America, flew back to London and was offered a part in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, Evita, at the Prince Edward Theatre.

She performed in theatres all over the country, appearing in pantomimes and shows with many stars, including John Nettles, Anneke Rice, Les Dawson, George Cole, Sheila Hancock and Bernard Cribbins.

But she never forgot her roots. In 1983, she appeared at Oxford's Apollo Theatre, now the New, in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.

Miss Rimmer's marriage to her first husband, Lt Cdr Tim Henry, in 1987 was labelled the wedding of the year at Old Marston and everyone was invited.

Miss Rimmer, who lived in Brighton with her second husband, Mark Lanahan, died in the Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath.

The funeral took place at Brighton on Tuesday.

In a tribute to their daughter, Mr and Mrs Rimmer, who live at Wolvercote, described her as "vibrant, always colourful, with a lovely voice".

A memorial service will be held at St Peter's Church, Wolvercote, on Friday, September 5, at 2.30pm.