Tommy Trafford
Encyclopedia
Tommy Trafford was a Lancashire
comedian
and a noted pantomime dame
.
He lived his early life in Blacko
, near Nelson
, where he performed in church productions alongside Jimmy Clitheroe
, "The Clitheroe Kid", with whom he went to school. Tommy owned a traditional Blackpool guest house, as did many performers, which gave him the experience to run a country hotel and restaurant for Jimmy during a temporary 'retirement' from Showbiz. Of the many routines and characters that Tommy portrayed, his best known routine was a homage to Norman Evans
’ ‘Over the Garden Wall’ sketch as the larger-than-life Fanny Fairbottom. Norman's widow, on seeing Tommy perform this on television said it was the best she had seen.
He appeared on playbills as ‘Tommy Trafford - Laughs from Lancs’. In later life he specialised in playing pantomime dames (harking back to Norman Evans), putting on annual Christmas pantomimes at Southport
between the 1960s and 1980s, for which he earned the sobriquet ‘Mr Southport’. With his business partner and fellow actor, singer and dancer Ronnie Parnell he also ran a theatrical costume hire business as well as jointly producing summer shows and old time music hall.
In later life Tommy was a tireless worker for charity.
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and a noted pantomime dame
Pantomime dame
A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British pantomime. It is a continuation of en travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. They are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting 'butch' in women's clothing...
.
He lived his early life in Blacko
Blacko
Blacko is a village and civil parish within the Pendle district of Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 595.The village is on the old turnpike road to Gisburn...
, near Nelson
Nelson, Lancashire
Nelson is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 28,998 in 2001. It lies 4 miles north of Burnley on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....
, where he performed in church productions alongside Jimmy Clitheroe
Jimmy Clitheroe
James Robinson Clitheroe was a British comic entertainer. He never grew any taller than 4 feet 3 inches, and could easily pass for an 11-year-old boy, the character he played in The Clitheroe Kid....
, "The Clitheroe Kid", with whom he went to school. Tommy owned a traditional Blackpool guest house, as did many performers, which gave him the experience to run a country hotel and restaurant for Jimmy during a temporary 'retirement' from Showbiz. Of the many routines and characters that Tommy portrayed, his best known routine was a homage to Norman Evans
Norman Evans
Norman Evans , was a variety and radio artiste, born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England.Evans was discovered by fellow Rochdale entertainer Gracie Fields...
’ ‘Over the Garden Wall’ sketch as the larger-than-life Fanny Fairbottom. Norman's widow, on seeing Tommy perform this on television said it was the best she had seen.
He appeared on playbills as ‘Tommy Trafford - Laughs from Lancs’. In later life he specialised in playing pantomime dames (harking back to Norman Evans), putting on annual Christmas pantomimes at Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
between the 1960s and 1980s, for which he earned the sobriquet ‘Mr Southport’. With his business partner and fellow actor, singer and dancer Ronnie Parnell he also ran a theatrical costume hire business as well as jointly producing summer shows and old time music hall.
In later life Tommy was a tireless worker for charity.