Irene's Memoirs
Important facts from above: Dad owned 2 cottages in Church Road Bipsham- Irene lived with her grandparents in one of these. He also owned the house Rock Mount in Red Bank Road. Her mother's grave was in the local graveyard there. Sister Aggie was a Tiller Girl performing in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Important facts from above: sent to board at St Marys Catholic Academy, just 2kSE of Bispham aged just 5, ie 1921, Aggie then on tour with the Tillers.Then disaster struck- old Town Hall her father had bought for £1000 burnt down with all his theatre props & costumes - father in Plymouth- could this be as early as 1922?? , but below she says she was 9, so 1924??
Important facts from above; Sent to a horrid school- Everton Valley in Liverpool- letters censored but conveyed to HLO that she was not happy,
Important facts from above: So her father removed her from the Liverpool misery. Went back to Gran & Red Bank Road School- father touring in Off the Dole for 2 years- my only ref. to this is 1928. Next disaster was talking Movies - father had to perform in "The Dumps". Father had to sell Rock Mount & the cottages- compulsory purchase for road widening . Aged 12, - so 1928 - she left school & accompanied him on tour
Important facts from above: Irene went to different schools each week on tour. Likely dances with Gertie Girtana soon after this. When she got too tall for this, she joined her father in Haverford West, peeling potatoes for his Fish & Chip shop for 6 months before they could afford a peeling machine. Then, after 12 months there- who knows?, the Memoirs peter out, but she maybe joined the Sherman Fisher dancers around 1930, or maybe slightly later.