~ Blessings ~

The Lord gave me talent, riches and fame, there are many other blessings I can name. I'll appreciate until I die, the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky. Flowers butterflies and bees, fragrant blossom on the trees. The trilling notes of a bird, the sweetest song I've ever heard. Fields and meadows fresh and green the earth so rich and brown, tumbling autumn leaves in the cities and the town. Laying carpets of amber and gold, a lovely sight to behold. Wintertime is best of all when the dancing snowflakes fall. His praises I will loudly sing for all of this and everything.

~ Always The Same ~

During her childhood Gracie had a taste of poverty as we all know living behind lace curtains and an large aspidistra, no different from any other house in the row. When she eventually rose to fame her general approach was just the same, "Don't get above yourself lass" her father used to say, she remained a true Lancastrian to her dying day. Giving a charity concert each year in her home town, singing her heart out until the curtain came down.

~ The Proper Way ~

During the 1930s Gracie entered a London restaurant and ordered a pot of tea, "Do you prefer Indian, China or Orange Pekoe?" she was as green as could be. "I don't know anything about oranges" she ventured to reply, the unfortunate waitress gave a deep sigh. When served she found a string tied bag in the pot, disliking the look of it she threw out the lot. Visiting homely Rochdale would not come a day too soon, tea was made the proper way carefully measured with a spoon. From foreign and flavoured aromas the gentry take sips, Gracie was only acquainted with Brook Bond's PG Tips!.

~ Welcome Home ~

Sir Cyril Smith a prominent MP often enjoyed Gracie's company at important functions he was always there seated next to the Mayor. They toasted Rochdale's greatest ambassadress with champagne, delighted to welcome her home again. A poignant memory comes flooding back to me when she gave a week of charity concerts in 1933. The Mayoress delivered a glowing speech thanking Gracie for all she had done expressing an affection shared by everyone. When presented with a hundred pounds for her orphanage she wept openly wiping tears from her eyes she said "I'm just happy I can do it" then at the close - "Thanks for sending me home with a red nose." 

~ The Film Years ~

Gracie was not only a stage star she was a film star too, in the fifteen films she made her talent comes shining through. Sally In Our Alley, Looking On The Bright Side and This Week Of Grace, directed by Maurice Elvey, Basil Dean and Julius Hagan at a slow even pace. Sing As We Go, Love Life and Laughter and Look Up and Laugh the latter by Basil Dean in which her brother Tommy appeared on screen. Queen of Hearts directed by Monty Banks a livelier session it received her grateful thanks. The Show Goes On  the last under Dean's direction, We're Going To Be Rich, Keep Smiling and Shipyard Sally, Monty Banks brought to perfection. Stage Door Canteen, Holy Matrimony, Molly and Me and Madame Pimpernel directed by Frank Borzage, John Stahl, Lewis Seiler and Gregory Ratoff the Hollywood four, after 1948 Gracie made no more. Her career continued on the stage until she was seventy years of age.