The Tiller Girls
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The Tiller Girls
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Contact Pages
My Family Pages
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tillergirls.com This page is my Tiller Girl contacts page. Please note I do not hold any of the Tiller Girls old records of dancers these have been lost over the years, and I am not sure where I might find any. However I am building some records of my own from information gathered over the years and through this site. Should anyone have information on ex-Tiller Girls or History on the Tiller Girls please contact me I will be very grateful for the information. If I am able to help through this web page I will be pleased to try. If you are trying to locate a long lost friend from the Tiller Girls please email the details to Bernard Tiller I will add the message to this page. You can also Join our Tiller Girl Group on Facebook where you may be able to contact Ex Dancers and their Families You never know you may be lucky! Tip! If you press Ctrl f on your keyboard you can search on a name.
---------------------------------------------- Tiller Girls 1945 Courtesy of Yvonne Sellers Tiller Girl Contacts 1890 to 1959. For Contacts 1960 onwards see next page. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ref: Barbara Stratta
Hi there,
My mum was a Tiller Girl
1948-1953. Her name was Barbara Stratta, if anyone remembers her I would
love to hear from you.
Thank
you
Roger Wiffen Any replies will be forwarded to Roger. Bernard Tiller ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Edwina de Carr.
My great aunt Edwina was a
Tiller Girl in the late 1940's, and danced under the name Edwina de Carr. If
there is anyone who remembers her from her dancing days, she would be
delighted to hear from them. Unfortunately she doesn't have many pictures
left from those days, except some taken when she joined Chris King in his
mad magicians act as his assistant after leaving the Tiller Girls.
Tracey Mitchell ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Roma Cornell I wonder whether anyone can tell me if my
mother was a Tiller Girl probably in the 40s or 50s. Thank you for reading hope to hear from you soon. Roma Scholes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Helen Sharp. In case you are trying to keep records of former Tiller Girls I would like to tell you that my mother, Helen Sharp, who was a Tiller Girl around 1928-1932 passed away in 2002, age 94. She and another Tiller Girl, Peggy Gallagher, were both from Glasgow and remained friends their whole lives. They both married and settled in Massachusetts. Peggy had scrapbooks full of pictures, but my mom lost all her pictures in a flood, so I would love to go to Peggy's and look at her albums. They also had a friend named Betina--I don't remember her last name. Love your website. Margery Miklus Should anyone have any information or photo's that show Helen please let me know and I will forward to Margery. Bernard Tiller
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Ref: Sarah Hartley-Barker My husband's grandmother was born in 1888 and we believe that she was a Tiller girl in Manchester around 1904-1910. Her name was Sarah Hartley-Barker. We understand that she had a relationship with G.H. Elliot but she married a John William Shanks.
I would be thrilled to find that
you do have a record of her and a photograph would be fantastic. My
Father-in-Law doesn't have a photograph of his mother from this period of
her life and I would love to source one for him.
If you do not have any
information, have you any idea where I could go next?
Thank you for your time.
Sarah Shanks
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Ref: Margo Lees / Pat Thompson Hi Bernard
Like most of your correspondents I am researching my
family tree and would like some information about a person who I believe was
a Tiller girl; her stage name was Margo Lees, I believe, and she was the
mother of Jeremy Lloyd, the writer; in an interview he said his mother was a
Tiller girl!. she would have been dancing in the 1920's I would think.
As far as I know--from Jeremy Lloyd's autobiography, "Lees" was her true surname--having said that I haven't yet found the marriage under that name. She was allegedly due to go to America 1928/29 but married his father instead! Any information would be very gratefully received, from whatever source!
Fingers crossed
Pat Thompson
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Christine Bevis I was a Tiller in the 1950s. I recently discovered your web site I would like to pass on my contact details to any of the girls I used to dance with. I've often wondered about Peggy Miller? You can see some of Christine's friends in Photo Gallery 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ref: SILVIA DOSSET I'm trying to track down SILVIA DOSSET,
she lived in Brentford Middlesex. We auditioned for the Tillers together in
October 1951 and went into Pantomine at the Palace Theatre Plymouth. We then
toured with the Tillers for the rest of 1951/52. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Ethel Dickinson Can anyone help Melanie find a photo of her
grandmother please? Her Grandmother would have been a Tiller Girl between 1900
and 1912. I have many photos from this time but most do not identify the dancers
by name. I would like to ask relatives out there if they have any information on my grandmother Ethel Dickinson whom must have been one of the first Tiller Girls as she was born in 1892 in the parish of Saint Simons Broughton Salford Manchester. Ethel was married in 1912 at the age of 20 to Harry Shaw. My father died in 1991 when I was only 21 he had no photos of my grandparents what so ever. Please if anyone
has a photo with a name on the back please get in touch many thanks Melanie Hart. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ref: Rosanna Thompson / Dolly Thompson My
grandmother, Rosanna Thompson and her sister Dolly Thompson danced with the
Tiller Girls back in the early 1920's. They both travelled to Paris with the
troupe and later to the US. Rosanna's sister Dolly moved to Argentina and
married into the De Barka family and that side of the family has been lost to
contact for many years. I saw on the website that Lilly, one of the original
dancers had reached 100's years. Bravo! I wondered if anyone had been in contact
with you over the years who might remember my grandmother Rosanna or her sister
Dolly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Jack Billings I have received this email from Sandra seeking information on a Jack Billings, I have not heard of this choreographer before and would really like to know more about him if he was working with the Tiller Girls. Should anyone know the name or be able to tell me more it would be appreciated. I came across your site when I was trying to research Jack Billings. He was a Canadian Choreographer and I was learning tap with him in London in around 1955/56. He was a choreographer for the Tiller girls around that time. I later caught up with him when he had a Dance School in Goldhawk Road, Shepherds Bush - that would have been around 1960/61. I was wondering if anyone had any idea of his whereabouts now - if he is still alive - he was born in 1920 so maybe he is not still around. Any information would be appreciated. He was very important to me at the time and it would be so nice to find out what happened to him.
By the way I think your site
is great and hope you get lots of the girls together.
Best wishes
Sandra Peros
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Lily Yeo We think my nana used to be a Tiller girl and I (and my mum!) wondered if there would be any information available – posters, archives etc. And if so, where to find it. Her name was Lily Yeo and was born in Salford, Manchester in 1901 and was married in 1934 so presumably her time would have been any thing from 1918 to 1934. She was double jointed and mum says she used to be in both the line and in a duet in a Parisian café scene where she was ‘thrown’ about like a rag doll. And that’s all we know about her time then. If you could shed any light onto if she was an actual Tiller girl or anything else, we would be extremely delighted. Many thanks Jackie --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Hern or Hearn
Sir:
I am producing a new website on the History of Sands End (A district of Fulham) and have been told an ex Tiller Girl lived in Broughton Road during the late fifties/early sixties. Her surname was Hern or Hearn and first name Rosie, Rosemary or Rose. Sorry to be so vague but can you help?
Best wishes
Frank Czucha ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ref: Jessie
I am looking for information on a former Tiller Girl, she lived with my father until her demise in about 1980 in Clifton. She seamed about mid or late sixties at that time or maybe older, I only remember her first name "Jessie" and that her father was a famous, in her words "Magician" I know its not much to go on but any info would be most welcome. Thank you. Leslie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Ethel Downes / Lenors I have been researching my family tree and my mother's aunt Ethel Downes ( Stage name Lenors ) born in Manchester was a tiller girl in the early 1900s, I was told she toured around the Country including Birmingham where my grandfather went to see her and London and then went abroad. I have three photographs of her one with the dancing troop, one on her own and another portrait taken with another lady called Mamie, we think the name of the photographer's shop is German and taken in or near Austria.
My mother was told she died quite young but no one ever knew
what happened to her or if she changed her name, there was
also a rumour that she had a baby girl called Rebecca that's
all the information I have
I was wondering if anyone can help or has a similar family
history to ours.
I have had the photo's restored and can email them, maybe
someone will recognise one of their past relatives on there
and help me with any more information.
I am so glad I found this website.
Regards Anne
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Brenda Sullivan Hello Bernie, Silvia Blake (Head girl),
Rita Harstedt, Anne Edgington, Jayne Klombies, Stella Willis,
Liz Field, Rosemary Grenard, Lillian Tavendale, Eileen Tyrell,
another Rosemary, Wendy and Carol. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Alma Honour Dear Bernard My mother Alma Honour was a Tiller Girl and came to South Africa with them in 1953 and celebrated her 21st birthday in Cape Town with the troupe. I am hoping someone might have photographs or more information for me. She sadly passed away in early 2001. I have no photographs of her from this time as these were lost. I would love to here from anyone who knew her during this period. I will also shortly be going to our News Paper Archives where I will get copies of newspaper articles and would be happy to forward the articles and scanned in pictures. Your site is great. Paul S. Meinhold
Thank you Bernard Tiller -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Catherine Lucy Thompson My Mother, Catherine Lucy Thompson was a Tiller girl in London in the 1940’s. She was a war bride and now lives in Oakville Ontario Canada. She is healthy and still dancing and will celebrate her 88th birthday on July 5. Her best friend, Ray Scivington, recently deceased, was also in the troupe. I am sure she would be thrilled to hear of any of her contemporaries that are still surviving. Please let me know if you have a forum, chat room or similar way of contacting old colleagues. Best regards Liz Scott ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Rose Eva Holmes / Connie Connors I wonder if anyone could help please. I am trying to trace my family tree and understand that my grandmother - Rose Eva Holmes who I understand used the stage name Connie Conniers (or Connors) was a member of the Tiller Girls or indeed worked with them during, I believe around 1890 onwards. She did work as a double act with her sister Ivy although I do not know her stage name. They originally came from Yorkshire. I have some old photos but only of them. If you can help I would be most grateful. Many thanks Linda Jackson ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref: Wilkin. I am at the moment searching my family tree and was wondering if you could help me with the following information – My mother tells me that she had a cousin who was a member of the Tiller Girls in the 1940’s, my mothers maiden name is Wilkin and her Uncle was called Jack Wilkin, who had 6 girls and three or four of them were in the Tiller Girls, she thinks that their names were Joan, Millie, Bertrice, Queenie but cant remember the other names. I don’t know if this is would also help but Jack had twin sisters called Elizabeth and Florence (I think). It would be great if you could shed some light on this or would be able to let me know if there could be any other leads. Mrs Carol Petty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Margaret Palmer. The family of Margaret Palmer / later Jackson, a 1930's Tiller Girl who married a performer named Walter Jackson would like to find any information on Margaret or Walter to help build their family tree. It is believed that they performed in the London Area. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mother of the French film actress Jeanne Moreau was an English chorus girl or Tiller girl from Manchester who went to dance in Paris, met a French barman, and gave birth to Jeanne in 1928. Does anyone have any memories of her (the mother) and could anyone tell me her name ? She was apparently an ancestor on my mother's side. Graham Healey ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Margaret Higgins. I just recently learned that my Grandmother was possibly a Tiller Girl before 1935 when my mother was born. My mother also danced on the stage, but I do not know if she was part of the Tiller Girls or not. Is there any records of the names of the Tiller girls so that I can confirm this and add the details to my family history? My Grandmother was known through many names - Margaret Higgins, Margaret Miller, Margaret Latroy and Margaret Taylor. She died in 1968 aged 70, but I believe she may have been older. She was born in Ireland. My mother was born Margaret Annette Taylor in August 1935 in Preston. My Grandfather was John Thomas Taylor and he was a retired musical director. He also went under the name of John Latroy. Any information that you have would be greatly appreciated
Madeleine
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Connie Pearce. I have recently been undertaking some refurbishment work at a care home in Walton on Thames and have met a delightful lady by the name of Connie who was a Tiller girl, I believe her maiden name was Pearce she will be 106 years old in January 2005. I would be really grateful if you had any information and a photo of her troupe. I would imagine Connie's time with the Tiller girls would have been circa 1916 onwards and that she must be one of the oldest Tiller girls alive and I would be pleased to show her some part of her past. Many thanks in anticipation Steve Howard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Ellen Daley. My great grandmother, Ellen Daley, was a Tiller Girl in London c1900. I have recently begun researching my family tree and would love to know more about my great grandmother's life. Please can you let me know whether there are any surviving records relating to Tiller girls during this period and, if so, where I might find them? Thanking you in anticipation. Yours sincerely, Elizabeth White ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Harriet Staples. I am trying to trace the exact dates my Grandmother was one of the Tiller Girls. Do you still have all the records, and if not can you put me in touch with somebody who might remember her. Her name was Harriet Staples, from London. She was a Tiller Girl in the 30s, and left when she married by Grandfather. Her parents used to run the Queen's Larder pub in Bloomsbury. We would really appreciate any information you might have. Many thanks April Cullen ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Josephine Arnott / Karen Blair. My mother was a tiller girl and I was wondering if there is ever a way of tracing any old photos or information about her days. Unfortunately she passed away 10 years ago, hence I can't discuss it with her anymore. She was born in the 1930's so I guess she was performing in the mid to late fifties and she did attend a reunion in Brighton back in the eighties sometime. Anyway, just stumbled across your details on the internet and thought I've got nothing to lose sending this email! Her name was Josephine Arnott (stage name Karen Blair). Many thanks Cheryl --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Lily Croshaw. I am trying to trace any details regarding a Lily Croshaw, who later became Lily Nash. I am lead to believe she was a Tiller Girl somewhere between 1890 and 1910. On behalf of her family, I am trying to get any details or better yet, a photograph of her during those days. Any information or pointers you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Wayne Thomas ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Pamela Deighton. Dear Bernie, I have come across your web site and e mail address and wondered if you could put a plea out for me. I am trying to find a former tiller girl who was named PAMELA MARJORY VIVIENNE DEIGHTON who used to live in York and danced I believe in the 1950's - or anyone who may have known her and is still in contact with her. I appreciate any help you can give me. Regards Anne ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Maisie. Hi I am trying to find information on Maisie We are not sure of the stage name she used it could be (Nelson, Stewart, Danby or Orr) Married to a Flt Lt Graham. She was one of the Carlton Tillers. Can anyone help me with photos or information please. June ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ref Dorothy Fry/Bergin. Please can you help me as I am anxious to find out more about my late grandmother Dorothy - the only thing I can remember is that she had links with Paris, France but for what reason, I cannot recall. I have reason to believe that my grandmother, Dorothy Fry, (maiden name was Bergin) she was a member of a Tiller troupe. I do not know what years she would have danced with the Tiller Girls but it must have been in the 1880's as my late Dad, Norman Fry, was born in 1919. Dorothy went to live in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, with my grandfather, Walter, Norman's Dad. Hoping you can help me - ANY information will be gladly received, Claire -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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I
know from my emails that my site is often visited by dancers who
worked and in some cases stayed in South Africa, it would be
great to hear from anyone who could tell me more about their
time as a dancer in Africa, particularly if they were there in
the 1950's or can remember Alma. 