~ Grace Wakefield ~

Gracie spent a weekend at The Haven whenever she was free to have a good rest and breakfast in bed. One Sunday morning her young niece was carrying on Gracie heard every word she said. "Auntie Grace always comes down here looking such a mess and when she gets here she never wants to do anything except rest. Why should she have all this fuss about her being tired, and she must rest, and she must have her breakfast in bed. My mother isn't like that" she said. The following Saturday Gracie was giving a concert in Brighton young Grace was astonished to find that many of the girls in her school would be seeing the show, very quietly she asked if she could go. The next morning Sunday the bedroom door opened young Grace carried in the breakfast tray laid it down carefully and flung her arms around Gracie's neck. "Oh Auntie Grace I never knew you were like that, I never knew you could sing like that. I had no idea how hard you worked or what you could do, I've been horrible please forgive me for hurting you. I'll do all I can to help you rest nothing but my very best," Gracie gave her young niece a big hug she thought how lovely it would be if she could spend a lot more time with her family and do all the work too, wishful thinking often comes true. 

~ Greentrees ~

Gracie took Bert Aza's advise and bought a beautiful big house named 'Greentrees' in Finchley Road, she arranged it all to her liking she was proud of her new abode. There were four pianos one in each room and a lovely garden in full bloom. Attended by Seamus an Irish gardener, Auntie Margaret and Mary Barratt were installed plus Italian maid Flo-Flo, a perfect setting for Grace and Co. Although it could not be described as peaceful in any way songwriters played the pianos every hour of the day. They were forever on the go but it kept the place alive and Gracie was a lively person as we all know. She made a lot of money and spent a great deal Bert had warned her to save half for tax but she paid no heed she did not feel there was any need until she received a huge Income Tax demand one day which she was quite unable to pay. Gracie had signed a contract to make four films at fifty thousand each but it was too late the Inland Revenue were not prepared to wait. She had a word with Monty anxious to hear what he had to say, "You will have to sell the house Grace and all the contents it is the only way." "They are not having the goldfish she protested or the tiger lilies that I planted myself ."  Of those particular blooms she was very fond, in the dead of night she pulled them up and scooped every goldfish out of the pond, "Why worry" said Gracie, "Whatever will be will be, all that really matters is my home in sunny Capri."  

~ Duggie Wakefield ~

Duggie was a comedian slight in stature with jet black hair parted in the centre and a turned-up nose, he wore striped blazers in bright colours he was rather fond of those. He appeared in Mr. Tower of London the Archie Pitt revue and in a film with Gracie too. Edith met him when she was on stage, sadly he suffered asthma and died in middle age. He left Edith one hundred and fifty thousand and a big house in Hendon all around her luxury was spread, another step going up just as Mumma said. 

~ The Tramcar ~

When Gracie was a child in Rochdale one of her favourite games was holding on to the back of a tram as it started off and run and run, faster and faster as it gathered speed it was great fun. Until at last it ran her off her feet and she had to let go, dizzy and tingling from head to toe. Gracie said in the three years before the war life was a tramcar she just went on and on until she had to let go, then she nearly died as we all know.

~ Mary Barratt ~

Mary Barratt was a companion help to an eccentric old lady in Blackpool and a most ardent Gracie Fields fan, she sent her a humorous letter and received a reply "I'd like you to work for me if you can." Mary accepted if Gracie was prepared to wait, meanwhile she had to find a successor before it was too late. Shortly afterwards Mary found a kind person to take her place leaving her free to work for Grace. Many years later when her services were no longer required she exchanged one job for another, Mary and her husband 'Ding' became caretakers at The Haven the home of Gracie's father and mother.

~ On The Wings of a Song ~

Gracie's bathroom in Capri was fuchsia her bedroom pink, she had an elegant dining room and a large lounge where friends could relax for a chat and a drink. When the daylight hours had gone Gracie sent them home on the wings of a song. Such wonderful memories to recall, a blessing from heaven to enrich them all. 

~ The Coliseum ~

Of the many theatres in which she appeared Gracie loved the Coliseum the best of all, big challenging exciting the essence of music hall. There she earned her first one hundred pounds that led to so much it seemed to have a magic touch. She remembered the Royal Command performances and other shows, often Mumma sang with her when the curtain rose. Even Dad joined in one day singing his morning shaving song, "Hoy! You'll never miss your mother 'til she's laid beneath the clay." Gracie sang on stage just before her serious illness and she came back there after the war, the Coliseum held memories by the score.