Daisy Wood
Encyclopedia
Daisy Violet Rose Wood (15 September 1877 in Hoxton
, London
– 19 October 1961), was an English
Music hall
singer.
. Seven of the siblings took up stage careers. In their earliest years, costumed by their mother (Matilda Mary Caroline), they performed as The Fairy Bells Minstrels, singing temperance songs in local missions and church halls. This ceased, when the eldest sister made her professional debut at the age of fifteen. The children were entranced by music hall, their father (John, an artificial florist) working in the evenings at the nearby Royal Eagle Tavern.
Daisy, made her own first professional appearance in a play entitled My Willie at the South London Palace, on 17 March 1890. She went on to perform a solo musical act, making the most of her petite and dainty figure. She was thought to have been the prettiest of the sisters.
On 26 April 1899 she married Donald Alexander Munro, an insurance broker and chairman of the Crown Theatre. She was only 21, her husband 26, and she retired from the theatre. They had two children, Donald (1902) and Dorothy Grace (1906). They moved to Kensington
, but Donald fell ill the following year, and their fortunes were under pressure.
In her late twenties, Daisy returned to the stage, and due to the increasing fame of her sisters, at the top of the bill. In 1908 she was offered an immense sum to tour New York
with her sisters (Marie, Alice and Rosie), by the William Morris Agency
, and in the autumn they performed in New York, to great acclaim.
Her husband died on 24 September 1911, aged 39. His widow continued to tour throughout the British Isles and internationally, until she finally retired in 1928, but occasionally returned to the stage with her sisters Alice and Rosie during the 1930s and World War II
.
Daisy Wood died on 19 October 1961, aged 84 at her home in Banstead
, Surrey
.
Hoxton
Hoxton is an area in the London Borough of Hackney, immediately north of the financial district of the City of London. The area of Hoxton is bordered by Regent's Canal on the north side, Wharf Road and City Road on the west, Old Street on the south, and Kingsland Road on the east.Hoxton is also a...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
– 19 October 1961), was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
singer.
Life and career
The fifth of nine children, the oldest being Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (1870–1922), performing under the stage name Marie LloydMarie Lloyd
Matilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
. Seven of the siblings took up stage careers. In their earliest years, costumed by their mother (Matilda Mary Caroline), they performed as The Fairy Bells Minstrels, singing temperance songs in local missions and church halls. This ceased, when the eldest sister made her professional debut at the age of fifteen. The children were entranced by music hall, their father (John, an artificial florist) working in the evenings at the nearby Royal Eagle Tavern.
Daisy, made her own first professional appearance in a play entitled My Willie at the South London Palace, on 17 March 1890. She went on to perform a solo musical act, making the most of her petite and dainty figure. She was thought to have been the prettiest of the sisters.
On 26 April 1899 she married Donald Alexander Munro, an insurance broker and chairman of the Crown Theatre. She was only 21, her husband 26, and she retired from the theatre. They had two children, Donald (1902) and Dorothy Grace (1906). They moved to Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, but Donald fell ill the following year, and their fortunes were under pressure.
In her late twenties, Daisy returned to the stage, and due to the increasing fame of her sisters, at the top of the bill. In 1908 she was offered an immense sum to tour New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with her sisters (Marie, Alice and Rosie), by the William Morris Agency
William Morris Agency
WME is the largest talent agency in the world, with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City, Nashville, London, and Miami. WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production...
, and in the autumn they performed in New York, to great acclaim.
Her husband died on 24 September 1911, aged 39. His widow continued to tour throughout the British Isles and internationally, until she finally retired in 1928, but occasionally returned to the stage with her sisters Alice and Rosie during the 1930s and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Daisy Wood died on 19 October 1961, aged 84 at her home in Banstead
Banstead
Banstead is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead in the county of Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It lies south of London, west of Croydon and of the county town of Kingston-Upon-Thames. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Metropolitan Green Belt;...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Selected Songs
- Fishing for a Sweetheart
- One of the Ruins Cromwell knocked about a bit (made famous by Marie)
- Oh, Marie Lloyd!
- Popsy Wopsy
- Violets