Worcester nostalgia photo mystery: is this Elgar at my granny’s?

June 2 is Edward Elgar Day, commemorating the birth of this acclaimed Worcestershire son. Quite by chance a local gentleman got in touch to share an image from his family’s album, that is believed to depict the famous composer.

Royston Gething has been involved with music and musical theatre in Worcester for most of his life, and very kindly shared some of his incredible archive documenting the story of theatre in Worcester from the 1960s onwards.

A 1971 programme from The Swan Theatre, including Eric Gething on the billing

The collection includes programmes, ticket stubs and stunning photographs as well as a library of sheet music which he and his late partner carefully curated on behalf of the Worcester Musical Theatre Company.

A performance of The Mikado by Great Witley Operatic Society in 1976. Enid Rea who appeared as one of the three little maids on stage in a 1950s adaptation (by Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society), can be seen on the far right of the photograph

Royston said: “I read the article on Worcester’s lost theatres a few weeks ago, and instantly recognised another face in the image of the three little maids from The Mikado.

“The lady on the right of the photo was Enid Rea who continued to be involved with theatre for many years.”

Royston was able to share an image of Enid taking part in another performance of The Mikado from the 1970s, a good 20 years after the first image was taken.

Class 3, St Stephen’s School, 1960. The class teacher was Mrs Bars and Royston can be seen, third from the right in the front row

The Gething family grew up in Worcester and Royston and his two older brothers Eric and Gordon, went to St Stephen’s Primary School.

Eric especially, was musically gifted, going on to represent his high school Samuel Southall’s at a musical festival in Cheltenham then later being selected for a successful entertainment show, performing around the country for several years.

Eric Gething (with his younger brother Gordon) and the prize he won at Cheltenham Music Festival on behalf of Samuel Southall School

There is a question mark over one particular photograph however, and Royston would love to know if it really is Edward Elgar sitting on the steps of his grandmother’s house, as the family history suggests!

“Granny lived at the top of Tunnel Hill years ago, not too far away from Elgar’s last home at Marl Bank. He used to cycle round the area.”

As Royston himself said, the grand tradition of musical performance continues locally through organisations like the Worcester Musical Theatre Company and it would be lovely to make that link back to the city’s most famous musician!

If you have memories of Worcester, we’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to view these photographs or even add your own, some of them are now available at kypworcester.org.uk.

You can now also create your own personal, private life story via the new NHS-hosted Life Stories platform https://life-stories.hacw.nhs.uk/

Worcester Life Stories

Worcester Life Stories is a collaborative project bringing local people together through shared stories of the City of Worcester.

It is co-led by Dr Natasha Lord, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Sheena Payne-Lunn, Worcester City Council and funded thanks to National Lottery players.

For further information or to share your stories, visit worcesterlifestories.org.uk, our Facebook page or Twitter @worlifestories.

You can also email worcesterlifestories@gmail.com or call 01905 721133.

And why not visit the We grew up in Worcester page on Facebook?