Wimbledon’s links with the old time music hall will be given another public airing tomorrow, Saturday, when former Prime Minister and one-time Rutlish schoolboy Sir John Major tells an audience at the Polka Theatre about his father’s stage career.

But successful as he was, Tom Major-Ball never matched the fame of another star with a local link.

Vesta Tilley (1864-1952), one of the country’s highest paid music hall stars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, died 60 years ago this month and is buried at Putney Vale beside Wimbledon Common.

Her real name was Matilda Powles and while Tilley became her stage surname, she took a brand of safety matches as her Christian name for public performances.

Like Hetty King (see Heritage story 6 April 2012) who lived locally in Palmerston Road, Vesta Tilley was famous as a male impersonator and singer.

She was born into a theatrical family and first appeared on stage herself at the age of three, making her debut in boys’ clothing three years later and using the stage name that made her famous from the age of 11.

By the time she was 14 in 1878 she was performing in two different music halls every evening and soon topped the bill at theatres both in Britain and the United States. In 1890 she married the man who composed some of her songs, Walter de Flece. Her biggest hits included “The Piccadilly Johnny with the Little Glass Eye” and “Following in Father’s Footsteps”.

She was at the pinnacle of her career during the First World War when she and Walter joined other music hall artists in encouraging the national recruitment effort for the Services. Dressed in military uniform she would invite members of the audience to sign on as part of her act, becoming known as the country’s best recruiting sergeant.

As well as performing rousing songs like "The Army of Today's All Right", she poked gentle fun at those who returned wounded from the trenches with the song "I've Got a Bit of a Blighty One" in which the protagonist is relieved to escape his dugout and get back to Britain. In 1916 she played a character called Vesta Beaumont in the film “The Girl who Loves a Soldier”.

After performing in hospitals and selling war bonds during the hostilities, she retired from the stage in 1920. She and Walter, recently knighted for his war services, went to live in Monte Carlo and she was henceforth known as Lady de Frece.

Her autobiography was published in 1934 and she returned to Britain after Walter’s death the following year. She died aged 88 on 16 September 1952.

Vesta Tilley is mentioned in Sir John Major’s new book “My Old Man, A Personal History of Music Hall” which features in this year’s Bookfest literary festival. Sir John’s talk tomorrow is sponsored by the Wimbledon Society ahead of the rest of the festival.

The Wimbledon Society is working with the Wimbledon Guardian to ensure that you, the readers, can share the fascinating discoveries that continue to emerge about our local heritage.

For more information, visit wimbledonsociety.org.uk and www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk .

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