‘Goodnight, ladies..’

Since Mabel first gave a solo performance at the Central Hall, Westminster, at the age of nine, her greatest joy had been performing to an audience.  At home she used to give Sunday evening recitals to her parents, and at friends’ parties, she took her violin to give a ‘party piece’.  Her professional playing career

‘Going up West’

In 1952, Mabel’s mother died, and the following spring she married Henry Leslie Willson, known as Leslie.  Leslie had been an admirer for many years, writing to her during her months in Portugal, and visiting her when she was playing in Skegness and elsewhere.  When Ella Winser had married Mabel’s brother in 1936 this had

‘Dear old Skeggie’

For female musicians, like Mabel, life got harder in the late forties and fifties. The large male dance bands were now working in the huge ballrooms all over the country – the Meccas, the Locarnos, and the Palais de Dance, as well as doing broadcasts.  However, as older dancers sailed round the floor with their

Evening News Flower and Country Shows

The Evening News sponsored another exhibition at Olympia called the Flower and Country Show for several years. Mabel won the contract to provide two ladies’ quintets for the 1953 show, and the letter of acceptance says that the arrangements would be similar to the ones already agreed for the Ideal Home Exhibition, with the addition

Ideal Home Exhibition, Olympia

After the experience of the Portuguese and Spanish tours of 1947 with the absent Gloria Gaye, Mabel never worked for another band leader, but became the conductor and organiser of her own bands. Her mother was ailing, and died in 1952, so much of her work was for functions in London, with summer seasons at

The Gloria Gaye band in Spain

The band were due to leave Portugal on October 7th 1947 and travel to Barcelona, where the Spanish agent had promised them work.  The final days were chaotic as the band members were short of money.  The day before the journey, Mabel’s trusty friend, Sam, took her shopping for supplies, such a towel and toiletries,

Gloria Gaye in Portugal, 4

During the latter part of the tour Mabel gradually acquired a new admirer – a Samuel Remeté. He had a job installing sound systems in cinemas, so travelled frequently, and was also relatively wealthy.  Sam had visited a few shows, and then made Mabel’s acquaintance.  As circumstances became more and more difficult in the final

Gloria Gaye in Portugal, 3

After a stay in Lisbon, they started touring to the north again, and stayed at Caldas de Rainha, where they were playing the accompaniment to the other artists, as well as playing their own items. One of the solos Mabel was playing was a violin and piano arrangement of Monti’s ‘Czardas’, for which I have

Gloria Gaye in Portugal, 2

The official band photos from this tour, like the German photos, have not survived, but I do have a group of personal snaps, and an album of postcard views of Portugal. I also have a bundle of letters to her mother which cover this period.  Mabel’s journal covers most of the tour, before finishing abruptly

Gloria Gaye in Portugal, 1

Early in 1947, Gloria Gaye contacted Mabel again and suggested she join her for a second tour of Germany. Later, Gloria decided she would prefer to visit Portugal and then Spain, and wanted Mabel to come as co-conductor. The prospect of visiting a warm country that had not been devastated in war appealed to Mabel,