Call for Integration

13/07/1968

Information

Speaking to the Dogsthorpe Road Ukrainian Club, city alderman Walter Setchfield said that, for the sake of immigrants' children, racial ghettoes in Peterborough must not be allowed to exist any longer. People of all races, colours and creeds must be inter-mixed and intermingled with city natives to prevent 'second-class citizens' in the next generation. He went on to say that different races should not be allowed to stick together in tight communities but must be scattered about the city. Time so often shows that ideals and realities rarely match. (Peterborough Evening Telegraph)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

Search and filter

Objects

Archaeology
Art
Costume
Geology
Natural History
Records
Social History
Treasure

Locality

Local
Global
National

Death of Variety Star Nosmo King

1949

Information

Mr Vernon Watson was born in Thorney in 1885, in his youth, a clerk at Barclays Bank in Peterborough. His interest in the stage began with performances at smoking concerts and when, in 1911, he appeared at the old Empire, Leicester Square, he became an overnight success. He took part in many subsequent productions there and as a single turn on the music halls.

At first he relied entirely on his voice in his imitations of the popular comedians of the day. His imitation of Wilkie Bard - exact in every way - was as remarkable a piece of virtuosity as the variety stage has produced. Among his favourite subjects were Harry Champion, Fred Emney and Frank Tunney. His stage name Nosmo King was inspired by seeing two open doors at a music hall which had split the notice 'No Smoking' into Nosmo King. He was later assisted by 'Hubert' - his son (Petty Officer Jack Watson)

He appeared at the Embassy in Peterborough in April 1947 as Colonel Blimp in a G.I. Bride farce 'For the Fun of it'

Though it was 39 years since he had been a clerk at Barclays, he still remembered his old friends in and around Peterborough.

Mr Watson died at his home in Chelsea on January 13th 1949. His funeral was held at Thorney Abbey and he is buried at Thorney cemetery, with 'Nosmo King' on his headstone.

Reference:

Peterborough Archives

vernon Watson , Nosmo King , Embassy Theatre , Variety

Please rotate your device

Call for Integration

13/07/1968

Information

Search and filter

Time periods

Themes

Significant Events

People

Buildings

Objects

Decades

Curriculum Subjects

Places

Locality

Death of Variety Star Nosmo King

1949

Information

Related stories