<Tr> <Th> Relatives </Th> <Td> Constance (sister) </Td> </Tr> <P> Kathy Staff (12 July 1928--13 December 2008), born Minnie Higginbottom, was an English actress, well known for her work on British television . She is most famous for her portrayal of Nora Batty on the longest running sitcom in the world, Last of the Summer Wine . </P> <P> Born in Dukinfield, Cheshire, Staff was best known for her role as one of the main characters, Nora Batty, in the long - running BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine . She played Nora Batty from the pilot episode in 1973 (though in the pilot and first series, she was referred to as Mrs. Batty) until 2008, the year she died from a brain tumour . </P> <P> Shortly after the death of actor Bill Owen on 12 July 1999, coincidentally also Staff's birthday, Staff left the show briefly . She stated in interviews that things just weren't the same since his passing, and her heart wasn't in it any more . She would later return and remain with the show until her death . </P>

When did kathy staff leave last of the summer wine