Album 11

Back from South Africa, Gracie in April 1936 kicked-off at a Press v. Boxers charity football match at West Ham's Upton Park ground. No ladylike toe-tap for this lass from Rochdale!!

1937 A scene from the film 'The Show Goes On' in which the pantomime 'Dick Whittington' was featured. Gracie is seen with her cat and two members of the cast.

Gracie launches the 'Gracie Fields'
at Southampton in 1936

Gracie disembarks after the first voyage on which she took all the children of her orphanage on a trip along the South Coast.

In February 1937 Gracie learned that she was to receive the Freedom of Rochdale so she held a party at her new home in St John's Wood, London, to celebrate the coming honour. In the photograph are: (from left to right) Her father Fred, Gracie with her nephew Michael (son of Tommy Fields) her other nephew Tony (son of sister Betty Fields) Betty Fields, Tommy Fields and Gracie's mother Jenny.

"I'm the happiest woman in the world" Gracie said this as she received the silver casket containing the Presentation Scroll.

Proud parents Fred and Jenny watch on in
admiration as Gracie is awarded the Freedom of Rochdale.

Gracie, with Ald. Crowder the Mayor of Rochdale,waves to her adoring fans below the balcony of the Town Hall. The gentleman on the far left is Alderman Charles Henry Bryning and it was he who suggested Gracie shortening her name from Stansfield to Fields.

Mill lasses welcome 'The Queen of Song'