Sean Hawkins

The first relationship was with his sister, and when she decided to marry and retire and have a child, then he joined up with this lady that he'd been seeing around the musicals, and that relationship seemed to have satisfied him.

The first relationship was with his sister, and when she decided to marry and retire and have a child, then he joined up with this lady that he'd been seeing around the musicals, and that relationship seemed to have satisfied him.

If you read some of the stage newspapers, which are online now, there is quite a bit about her. She, of course, had made her name as a lady with a good pair of legs who could look well in a pair of tights, particularly at pantomime time and so on. This was quite scandalous in the 20s and 30s. Yes, and she appeared on a cigarette card, which was a popular picture gallery of the times.

If you read some of the stage newspapers, which are online now, there is quite a bit about her. She, of course, had made her name as a lady with a good pair of legs who could look well in a pair of tights, particularly at pantomime time and so on. This was quite scandalous in the 20s and 30s. Yes, and she appeared on a cigarette card, which was a popular picture gallery of the times.

One of the very first picture card producers of a firm called Ogham's. And it's the only photograph I've seen of her in her less-dressed attire. LAUGHTER And later on, she was very keen, when they had this cinema in Reigate after 1916, she invited acts here to come and perform on the stage of the cinema. And they also had choirs and bands, and at Christmas, a variety performance.

One of the very first picture card producers of a firm called Ogham's. And it's the only photograph I've seen of her in her less-dressed attire. LAUGHTER And later on, she was very keen, when they had this cinema in Reigate after 1916, she invited acts here to come and perform on the stage of the cinema. And they also had choirs and bands, and at Christmas, a variety performance.

So it was, in a way, as well as a cinema, it was also a music hall itself.

So it was, in a way, as well as a cinema, it was also a music hall itself.

But I think she probably had a good eye for an act which would make money for them. In the Majestic, they used to have, Christmas time, they'd have a band and choirs come and sing. So it wasn't entirely, even then, with this Art Deco cinema... She was also having live occasions with live acts, effectively. Quite interesting that that survived.

But I think she probably had a good eye for an act which would make money for them. In the Majestic, they used to have, Christmas time, they'd have a band and choirs come and sing. So it wasn't entirely, even then, with this Art Deco cinema... She was also having live occasions with live acts, effectively. Quite interesting that that survived.

How long it survived, I think even in the wartime she had some acts, some comedians as well.

How long it survived, I think even in the wartime she had some acts, some comedians as well.

I don't know. I did get in contact with Neveu. who was an academic. I don't think he knew anything about what had happened to the Bancroft fortune, if indeed there was a substantial one left. But she had been a very keen member of the Catholic Church. And when the new church was built in Reigate in the 30s, quite a lot of money, it was just after she died, was given in her memory.

I don't know. I did get in contact with Neveu. who was an academic. I don't think he knew anything about what had happened to the Bancroft fortune, if indeed there was a substantial one left. But she had been a very keen member of the Catholic Church. And when the new church was built in Reigate in the 30s, quite a lot of money, it was just after she died, was given in her memory.

And I think her husband continued to support the church in all sorts of ways. And he gave an organ to the church and I think they have a baptistry there which was also paid for by him. So this, I think, also does show the measure of his love of his wife.

And I think her husband continued to support the church in all sorts of ways. And he gave an organ to the church and I think they have a baptistry there which was also paid for by him. So this, I think, also does show the measure of his love of his wife.

No, and I don't know, even locally, although they used the name in their relationship as Bancroft, until the mid-30s, his name was still Abraham, his son-in-law.

No, and I don't know, even locally, although they used the name in their relationship as Bancroft, until the mid-30s, his name was still Abraham, his son-in-law.

No, nobody knows. Well, of course, there was Squire Bancroft, the great, great late 19th-century actor, very much in the sort of Henry Irving mould. He was always called Squire Bancroft, and he was actually, I think, knighted, like Sir Henry Irving. So, yes, possibly that. So he was a sort of musical Squire Bancroft, thought of himself that way.

No, nobody knows. Well, of course, there was Squire Bancroft, the great, great late 19th-century actor, very much in the sort of Henry Irving mould. He was always called Squire Bancroft, and he was actually, I think, knighted, like Sir Henry Irving. So, yes, possibly that. So he was a sort of musical Squire Bancroft, thought of himself that way.