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~ Happy Thoughts ~
At the age of seven I fell under her spell, the reason why is not hard
to tell. Gracie sprinkled her magic over me, in my thoughts she will
always be. I admired her in life and her name is honoured now, memories will never take a final bow.
~ A Lovely Day ~
The north wind was blowing fiercely yet it was a lovely day the sound of
a baby crying came drifting along the way. A little girl with eyes of
blue destined to sing her whole life through. Spreading happiness as she
passed by making an audience laugh and cry. Her name was Gracie Fields
and come what may each anniversary of her birth is a lovely day.
~ Jenny's Pride ~
Jenny had ambition and tremendous pride as she gazed at her infant
daughter lying by her side. She encouraged Grace to sing at an early age
and pursue a career on the stage. Jenny once longed for a stage
career
but never had the chance, not only would Grace sing she would also act
and dance. As the years stretched ahead all her dreams came true,
stardom crowned our Gracie and her sisters and brother too.
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Gracie aged 2 |
~ Chip Sarah ~
Gracie's grandmother worked in the coal pits at six years of
age, opening heavy doors for pit ponies to pass through, a task
no child should be forced to do. As an adult she owned a fish
and chip shop in Rochdale's Molesworth Street she always wore
bright colours and her offerings were a treat. Gracie said she
looked like a gaudy Queen Victoria, but they had a great
affection for each other. Chip Sarah was her father's
mother.
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"Where I were
born" is Gracie's caption to the above photograph
in her album. The event took place in the front bedroom
over this fish
and chip shop (Chip Sarah's) at 9 Molesworth
Street, Rochdale.
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~ Mini-star ~
Five years old Grace Stansfield sang in clubs for working men she had a
remarkable voice even then. Giving her male audience a delightful
surprise, too young to be paid in cash she received tuppenny pork pies. As her family were poor it was a welcome treat
they seldom had luxuries
to eat. Today she is known as Gracie Fields with a home in Capri but
childhood memories never die friends invited to dinner enjoyed a succulent meat pie.
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A scene like young Gracie would have been in when she was
'singing for a pork pie' in the inns of Rochdale
Rochdale Market when Gracie was 5 years old.
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~ The Contest ~
Grace was not allowed to sing in the school choir although she had the
most melodious voice in town, teacher said the volume would drown the
others and bring the ceiling down. Mumma was furious but not for long
she heard of a singing contest where Grace could burst into song. Father
was not so sure, "Kids under eleven can't sing in public any more a
notice in t' paper I've just read," Mumma's lips tightened "We'll see about that" she said. Tall for her age and
dressed
in a purple velvet blouse and skirt with a more sophisticated hair style
Grace easily passed for eleven when in actual fact she was only seven.
Her remarkable talent the judge was quick to recognise
she tied with two
older girls and won the first prize. From this small beginning she sang
in charity concerts all over Rochdale and on the stage. In the years to
come achieving world fame, having banned
her from the choir teacher bowed his head in shame.
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Gracie, marked with an
X,
aged nine at Rochdale Parish Church School.
The schoolmaster, Mr. Johnny White, just behind her,
also taught her
mother Jenny. Gracie left
this school aged twelve to go on the stage.
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~ Safety First ~
When Gracie was seven she had her first taste of the music hall. An
artiste named Lily Turner was singing a sentimental ballad Gracie sat in
the gallery when the song ended she stood up and sang the chorus
back, a
woman armed with an umbrella gave her a hard whack.
"Shut up you
young hooligan you're spoiling the show", it was all part of the
act but how was she to know. After that sudden fit of rage
Lily kept her protégé on the stage.
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