Rhyme 4

~ A Bitter Lesson ~

Gracie appeared in pantomime at the age of fifteen feeling lonelier than she had ever been. Mumma sent sister Betty to keep her company they decided to buy some oranges to make it seem Christmassy. Two of the largest in the shop they bought alas they bit into sour grapefruit a bitter lesson was taught.

~ Dreamboat ~

Gracie and her sisters felt like a queen dressed in lace trimmed velveteen. Their long hair hung in ringlets rag curled every night blonde, red and chestnut had to look just right. Mumma brushed tweaked and twisted not a hair must be out of place she was determined they were going on the stage especially her eldest daughter Grace. Young brother Tommy was included too at thirteen he joined the cast in an Archie Pitt revue. Most of the neighbours were delighted but some were as jealous as can be if the mill was good enough for their girls it was good enough for Jenny's three. Mumma smiled smugly and turned a deaf ear she said "We are going up" she made that perfectly clear. All the ways and means she did comb now her dreamboat had come home.

~ The Poor Years ~

Money was scarce but they had their pride, they held their head high and their smile was wide. Their home was spotless and the children well fed, such were the virtues of Jenny and Fred.

~ Waiting in the Wings ~

Jenny was up to her elbows in soap suds with a rub and scrub, washing for theatrical folk swishing in the tub, It did not earn a high wage but it was a step nearer putting her daughter on the stage. Gracie delivered those beautifully laundered things giving her the opportunity to stand in the wings. Watching the acts and learning from their art to achieve the ambition on which Jenny set her heart. When a colleague told her any monkey can imitate she developed a style of her own, from this firm decision popularity has grown. Idolised by millions as around the world she sings all because her mother kept her waiting in the wings.

~ A Different Clay ~

Gracie used to say she was no different from her sisters and brother. Mumma declared she was made of a different clay and would be a famous star one day. Now Grace had gained a foothold she could teach the others so much more gradely to have one on the stage even better to have four.

~ Lets Talk Posh ~

Every Monday Jenny worked in the big houses taking Gracie with her on those occasions she spoke in her "well off" voice. One day she was telling the lady of the house about her great grandmother who was cook to the first Rochdale born MP John Bright and ended by saying "But of course she is dead at present" which did not seem quite right. The lady burst out laughing Jenny's face was red, "Did I say something wrong" she said. When the lady explained she pulled her shawl over her burning face grabbed her daughter by the arm and hurried outside in the cool. "Ee Grace there's nowt t' be gained talkin' posh, I am a damned fool.

~ The Hippodrome ~

Jenny applied for a job at the Hippodrome but nothing came her way then she had a stroke of luck someone was needed to scrub the stage every Sunday. So off she went with her bucket and brush Gracie helped her too she felt she was in another world it seemed too good to be true. Excitement overwhelmed her as she turned the key just to step upon a stage was sheer ecstasy.

Rochdale's first static cinema, 'The Old Circus'
just before closure in 1908 when it played host to
'Pringles Animated Pictures'.
As the Hippodrome, this old corrugated building
hosted Gracie Fields' very first stage performance.

Fourteen-year old Gracie as one of
Charburn's Young Stars,
her first experience of trouping.
~~
Below are the theatre posters that young Gracie helped to print.
The bills were published by Edwards & Bryning Ltd. of Rochdale.
Florence Bryning, the Managing Directors daughter,
was at that time Gracie's best friend. Both her and Gracie
'spread the ink' onto the printing block to produce the posters.

Pringle's/Empire advertisements - by horse and cart!

~ Sing As We Go ~

Through the smoky town of Rochdale clogs came clattering along, a happy band of lads and lasses singing a cheerful song. Headed by Grace Stansfield the most melodious of all, trilling notes soaring upwards and like a leaf gently fall. They had little money and very few toys, singing was one of their greatest joys. It filled Gracie's entire life as an artiste and a wife. Her autobiography as so many know is aptly entitled "Sing As We Go".

Gracie leading 'Sing As We Go' were marching on our way'

~ Better things ~

Jenny was baptized Sarah Jane Bamford orphaned at the age of ten and already working full time in the mill she lived with an aunt memories linger still. Jenny wanted better things for her children as a good mother should, Grace was going on the stage perhaps they all would. To exchange poverty for riches obscurity for fame, which of course they did when Gracie made her name.

~ A Taste of Champagne ~

Gracie Fields continued her training under the guidance of Archie Pitt during her teenage years, he was strict and exacting if she failed to please him she burst into tears. But there were the happy times in between, when she had her first taste of champagne having reached sweet sixteen. She was touring in the revue "Yes I Think So" Archie gave a party to celebrate her birthday Gracie was delighted to have got that far, especially when he wrote in her autograph book "To Gracie Fields one day you are going to be a big star"

~ Born To Sing ~

Gracie had red hair but she did not care if the clothes she wore were all wrong, she made it plain her main concern was singing a song. She sang in theatres and in the bath, around the house and the garden path. Summer, Winter, Autumn, Spring, Gracie never forgot to sing. That is what she was born to do, giving endless pleasure to me and you.

~ Fields of Clover ~

Grace Stansfield was too long a name the management said, she must find an alternative instead, Her mother suggested Gracie Fields it sounded just right, fourteen year old Gracie gave a whoop of delight. When eventually her sisters and brother changed over all the Fields were in clover.

~ Childhood Days ~

Gracie never forgot her childhood when she and her sisters slept in one large bed, or the parlour where they were all together. Being the eldest Gracie helped to look after her sisters and brother a duty she would never shirk, and her mother was certainly not afraid of hard work. She served in the big houses, took in washing for the theatrical folk and worked in the mill, a strong hardy Northerner never known to be ill. Gracie inherited her mother's determination and her father's stamina and wit, pieced like a jigsaw it made a perfect fit.

~ Four Times Over ~

Gracie, Betty, Edie and Tommy four young Stansfield's danced in a row, Fred and Jenny looking on their hearts all a glow. They had no doubt Grace would become a star, but did not expect the other three to get that far. It gave Jenny a tremendous thrill, no more charring, washing or trudging to the mill. Fred echoed her thoughts with a hearty cheer, when he retired from work as an engineer. Gracie cared for her family in true Lancashire style and considered the years of endurance well worthwhile. Fame brought riches and pastures new, they exchanged smoky Rochdale for Peacehaven's skies of blue.