ON February 16 this month, Warrington icon Pete Postlethwaite would have celebrated his 71st birthday. 

In celebration of the Hollywood star, we take a look back at our tribute to the Oscar-nominated actor who died on January 2, 2011. 

The 64-year-old had battled with cancer but his legacy lives on thanks to a distinguished career on the stage and screen.

Brought up in Orford and later Padgate, Pete went on to work with the likes of Bryan Singer on The Usual Suspects and Jim Sheridan on In the Name of the Father.

He was described as 'the best actor in the world' by Steven Spielberg after appearing in the Jurassic Park sequel, The Lost World and was made an OBE in 2004.

And Pete continued to work at the top level with the likes of Christopher Nolan on Inception and Ben Affleck on The Town even as his health began to fade.

Last year, our Weekend editor David Morgan spoke to some of Pete's co-stars from one of his best loved British films, Brassed Off.

Director Mark Herman said: "When I’m writing a screenplay, I always have photos of actors up on my wall. It sort of helps to visualise characters as you’re writing their scenes and dialogue.

"Of course, it’s extremely rare that those particular actors end up in the film. In fact I think it’s only ever happened once and that was with Pete in Brassed Off.

"I think because my first film, Blame It on The Bellboy, had been such a resounding flop, Pete had been advised to avoid me and my new project like the plague.

"But he loved the script, and I suspect against advice, agreed to secretly meet up with me to talk about it.

"We met for a late morning drink at The Toucan in Soho, and were still there in the early evening, by which time we were so in love with each other we were virtually married. At the very least he’d agreed to do the film.

"He was a remarkable actor, and though not always easy, he was an honour and an education to work with, and his performance in Brassed Off is just one of a frightening amount of triumphs.

"It’s extraordinary that one actor can have had so many, and it’s sad to think of how many more there could have been if we hadn’t lost him."

In Brassed Off, Pete played bandleader Danny from the Grimley Colliery Brass Band.

The soundtrack for the film was provided by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and the plot is loosely based on their coal-mining village's own struggles against pit closures.

Roy Bowater, who has performed at Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall with Grimethorpe Colliery Band, added: "Pete was a very down to earth and approachable guy.

"I recall a conversation with Pete where he told me that the band and the making of the film meant a lot to him personally as his father was a miner and he could relate to the struggles the miners had faced.

"When I joined Grimethorpe Colliery Band in 1991, 98 per cent of the band worked at the pit.

"In October 1992 it was announced that Grimethorpe Colliery would close as the pit was no longer profitable.

"When this announcement was made we were rehearsing for the national brass band finals.

"This was a very emotional time because of the media intrusion during rehearsals and the large percentage of the band were about to be unemployed.

"This emotion came to a head when we walked out on to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall and performed a test piece called New Jerusalem.

"We played like we had never played before and became the National Champions of Great Britain.

"Add a love interest, someone in debt and a critical illness and you have the storyline of Brassed Off.

"During the filming Pete asked members of the band for conducting tips and he went out of his way to make us feel at ease with him as if he was the actual conductor of the band.

"It's hard to believe that it has been five years since Pete died and more than 20 years since the film was released.

"Since the making of the film Pete has stayed in touch with the band and has made several personal appearances at our concerts including a retirement concert for one of our long serving members David Barraclough, or 'Bernie' in Brassed Off."

Stephen Tompkinson played Danny's son Phil in the 1996 film.

He paid tribute to Pete and sent his love to his wife Jacqui, son Will and daughter Lily who gave their blessing to this feature but did not wish to be interviewed.

Stephen said: "In my bedroom, among family photographs, is a picture of Pete and I laughing and celebrating together after the New York premiere of Brassed Off.

"I look at it everyday that I'm at home, think of Pete and smile at the cherished times we shared,"

- If you want to share your memories of Pete or have your say on his best film, TV or theatre part, you can comment below, use the hashtag #RememberingPete on Twitter or visit our Facebook page.

 DAVID MORGAN