In November 2024 Joanne Smith got in touch with the club all the way from New Zealand. Her mother Josie Gee had been brought up in London and she had a curious photo of her in a ‘Mildmay Chums’ costume – she’d always wondered what it meant. And then she showed a friend from London the photo and her friend said that she was born near the Mildmay Club and that this photo was probably connected to it in some way. Joanne got in touch with her aunt, Maureen Walker, who still lives in London. She confirmed that, yes, Josie used to sing and dance at the Mildmay Club; in fact, she was the club’s ‘mascot’. And it turned out that Maureen herself and her brother Roy also both used to perform at the club. So she got in touch with us to share her story.
Maureen, who now lives in Chelmsford, was kind enough to let us visit her to record her memories of her time at the club.
Maureen was interviewed by Rebecca Sewell and Richard Vranch on 15 February 2025
Listen to Maureen’s story here:
Oral history recording with Maureen Walker © 2025 by Richard Vranch and Rebecca Sewell is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Download the transcript
Maureen kindly shared some images with us of herself, her sister-in-law Josie and brother Roy. The captions contain the time codes, i.e. the point in her recording when she refers to them.
Summary
| 00′ 00″ | Introduction |
| 00′ 28″ | Maureen name and DOB |
| 01′ 20″ | Maureen, Roy and Josie were child performers from age 3 |
| 03′ 10″ | Roy goes into Variety at 14, Maureen into a juvenile chorus |
| 06′ 00′ | Mildmay was a big stage |
| 07′ 00″ | Typical bill |
| 07′ 30″ | Club chairman compered the show before comedians did |
| 11′ 30″ | Maureen and Roy’s act |
| 15′ 20″ | Working on the floor is known “Cabaret” style |
| 16′ 00″ | Their parents’ previous work |
| 18′ 00″ | Tap dancing on beer glasses and odd acts |
| 20′ 00″ | The Vicar of Mirth |
| 20′ 15″ | Tube station shows during air raids |
| 22′ 40″ | Collecting fresh shrapnel |
| 23′ 20″ | Halls acts vs Club acts. Multiple shows a night |
| 25′ 30″ | Quality of musicans, tap dancing on the bar |
| 28′ 45″ | Mildmay as a well-run venue, well-dressed audience |
| 32′ 00″ | Mildmay Mascot and Chums |
| 33′ 00″ | Photographs of their act |
| 34′ 30″ | Roy and Danny la Rue |
| 36′ 20″ | Child performers in pubs escaping the authorities |
| 38′ 40″ | Photo used on Cadbury’s Chocolate box |
| 40′ 10″ | Dodo Sweet, female impersonater |
| 41′ 36″ | Updating the act |
| 44′ 50″ | Brick Lane show (current era, revival) |
| 46′ 23″ | Broadcasting on TV and Radio |
| 47′ 30″ | Stags and a ‘Cod Strip’ act with fan |
| 52′ 10″ | Safety as a female performer, dirty phone calls |
| 54′ 00″ | Unusual to drive a car. Old Wolsey police car and other cars |
| 59′ 20″ | Payment in cash after the show |
| 60′ 30″ | Packing it in. Missing it. Visiting Roy in New Zealand |
| 64′ 10″ | Making the audience cry competitively |
| 65′ 20″ | Dodgy acts |
| 66′ 00″ | Anna Karen’s advice on being a stripper |
| 68′ 30″ | Mildmay Sunday morning shows, new material, favourites |
| 77′ 00″ | Manchester audience still well dressed in the 70s |
| 78′ 30″ | Shows on HMS Belfast. Douglas Bader on another boat |
| 80′ 30″ | Posh show, flowers thrown at their feet, fire-eater |
| 84′ 00″ | Thank you |
