Sandy Powell
Comedian
b. 30 October 1900
d. 20 June 1982
"Can you 'ear me mother" This was Sandy Powell's catch phrase.
Albert Arthur Powell was born in a small house in Russum's Yard, Bridgegate, Rotherham. His father called him 'Sandy' because of his ginger hair.
His father left home when he was four years old and never came back, leaving his mother with Sandy and his younger sister. His mother, Lily, who had been a variety artist quickly returned to work first as a waitress/singer in a pub and then contracted as a feature artist. Young Sandy used to go along with her and hide under the piano out of the way. Lily, using the stage name Lily le Maine, obtained a number of dates and Sandy was taken touring with her. At the age of five he got his first part - sitting in the audience belting out the choruses to encourage the audience to sing along.
In 1907 he first appeared on the stage as a boy soprano, but when his voice broke he gave up singing and concentrated on comedy and impressions. He often worked with his mother as the duo 'Lily and Sandy'.
Sandy was taught to read and write by his mother but had little formal education. The law requiring him to attend school in whatever town his mother was appearing in being largely unobserved. His experience came from life itself. The Wikipedia entry has him attending White's school at Masbrough where he helped his mother put on marionette shows.
By the time the First World War broke out he was in regular work and topped the bill when he was just eighteen. He was called up on 30/04/1918 but was rejected as unfit for service. Due to shortage of manpower he was called up again on 11/11/1918 - Armistice Day as it happened.
Sandy Powell had a long career on the stage and in pantomime, often appearing as a 'Scottish comedian' in a kilt. In addition to this he made his first broadcast on the radio in 1928 which was the start of many years of radio comedy. He also recorded many of his music hall and radio sketches on record, the first of these "The Lost Policeman" in 1929. These were very popular and earned him a very comfortable sum in royalties over the years.
In the 1930s Sandy began to work on the radio, always introducing his show with catchphrase "Can You Hear Me, Mother?". Sandy said that the catchphrase originated on one occasion when he dropped his script and was killing time at the microphone while rearranging the pages. The alternative explanation is that it originated when he worked with his mother who was somewhat hard of hearing. He also appeared in a number of films during the 1930s, most often as himself. During the Second World War was also an entertainer to the troops. He worked continuously on radio, television and pantomime throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and performed right up to the 1970s.
On a more personal note Sandy was married three times. Firstly to Peggy Whitty with whom he had a daughter Peggy and a son Peter. This marriage ended in divorce. He then married Katie Hughes in 1942 but she died in 1947. His third wife was Kay White whom he married in 1951.
Sandy Powell was awarded the MBE in 1975. Roy has let me have the following information about Sandy's later life. "In his latter years he 'retired' to Eastbourne (Sussex) and had an end of pier show always called Starlight. It gave good family entertainment. I remember this because we used to go to Eastbourne for the family holiday 1955 to about 1961. He also ran a guest house close to the sea front also called 'Starlight' where most of the visiting entertainers stayed while there."
He died on 26/06/1982; still the old trouper preparing for his next show.
Books about Sandy
"Can you hear me Mother" - Sandy Powell - A Lifetime of Music Hall
Sandy's story as told to Harry Stanley. Available but was not to borrow in Rotherham Local Studies Library.
Also a section dedicated to Sandy in "Thanks for the Memories" by Leslie Foster and numerous newspaper cuttings and clippings.
The Work of Sandy Powell
Many fans have been in touch about Sandy's many recordings. I am sorry but I don't have any of these. Neither have a found a website specifically dedicated to Sandy, nor and place online or offline to obtain his recordings.