Sean Hawkins

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.

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 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.

Yes, and she appeared on 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. So it was, in a way, as well as a cinema, it was also a music hall itself.

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.

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 performances. 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 performances. occasions with live acts, effectively. Quite interesting that that survived.

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

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

I don't know. I did get in contact with... a nephew 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... a nephew 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, that he...

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, that he...

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

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

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.

Yes, they were that. I mean, one can't ignore the fact that they would have seen a financial result, which they would hope would have been to their advantage, but of course wouldn't envisage the war. Certainly when the project began, they didn't envisage that she would die before it was finished.

Yes, they were that. I mean, one can't ignore the fact that they would have seen a financial result, which they would hope would have been to their advantage, but of course wouldn't envisage the war. Certainly when the project began, they didn't envisage that she would die before it was finished.