News from Glenfield Park WI

and appeared as a cockney costermonger, and among his songs was ‘My old Dutch’.

George Laybourne was famous for his rendition of Champagne Charlie a rather impoverished chap in a top hat.

WE WERE by Felicity Austin who talked to us about the History of the Music Hall. With the word sheets handed round we were able to have a great time joining in with Felicity with the songs and many of the choruses. She had hats, shawls and pinafores to give a further flavour of the times as she painted a picture of the music hall in its heyday.

We had a most enjoyable time hearing stories about its stars.

There was Harry Champion in his Pearly waistcoat singing ‘I’m Enery the eighth I am’ and ‘Any Old Iron’.

Little Tich, a comedian who had huge long shoes which looked ridiculous especially as he was only 4ft 6 inches his most famous recitation was entitled ‘The Green Eye of The Little Yellow God’ the tale of “Mad Carew”who was broken hearted.

Albert Chevalier moved from acting to the music hall

Of course, there was Vesta Tilley (above) who in the 1880’s and 90’s would often appear dressed either as a ‘Toff’ or a man in uniform and singing ’Who were you with Last Night?’ and ‘All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor’

Florrie Ford from Australia with the ‘Down at the Old Bull and Bush’ and ‘Hold your Hand out you Naughty Boy’ - she appeared in the first ever Royal Variety Show in 1912. A little later one of her popular songs was ‘Pack up Your Troubles in your Old Kit Bag’.

So many of the recitations and the songs were full of innuendo and a bit saucy.

Marie Lloyd was one of the finest female music hall performers with her famous song ‘There was I waiting at the Church’. One that we didn’t know was ‘She’s Never had Her Ticket Punched Before’!

With stories full of humour interspersed with a song or two for us to join in with we were only sorry when it came to an end.

~ Future dates ~

• AUGUST 3RD

Boat trip to Mountsorrel with picnic.

• SEPTEMBER 7TH

Hearing dogs for the deaf

• Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.

• One of the marks of successful people is they are action oriented. One of the marks of average people is they are talk oriented.