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The Music Hall Artistes of Lambeth Cemetery by Karen Ellis-Rees

As part of the 2025 Wandsworth Heritage Festival, Tooting History Group organised an evening of stories about and songs by the music hall artistes buried in Lambeth Cemetery. The event was held in one of the two cemetery chapels on a particularly warm evening in June. All 100 tickets sold out, and the proceeds went to Tooting History Group and Friends of Streatham Cemetery and to a charity chosen by the performers.

The talk was researched and delivered by Karen Ellis-Rees of Tooting History Group and www.london-overlooked.com. Karen has been “collecting” music hall graves for over five years and has amassed a spreadsheet of 310 names, with information about each and every one.The galleon had blown down in high winds and was stranded on the roof. It was reinstated but came down again in 2019.

Charlie Chaplin, sen.

The talk explained why Lambeth Cemetery is in Blackshaw Road in Tooting – which is of course in Wandsworth – why so many people connected to the world of entertainment were buried there, and why so few of their burial places are marked in any way.

We then met some of the people lying at rest in the cemetery. Top of the list was Dan Leno, the comedian and pantomime dame, closely followed by the singer-songwriter Charlie Chaplin, sen., and the fire queen Marion Le Neve.

After them came assorted comedians, contortionists, animal impersonators, male impersonators, juvenile troops, acrobats, songwriters and theatrical costumiers. Bringing up the rear was Theophilus Dunkley, the undertaker responsible for many of the funerals.

Peter Winbourne gave a spirited rendition of well-known music hall songs, with a quick costume change for each number. Peter was accompanied by Di Berry on the keyboard, while Denise Broad provided technical assistance, and the audience joined in the choruses with much enthusiasm.

Three of the songs have Lambeth Cemetery connections. If it wasn’t for the ‘ouses in between was written by the great and prolific George Le Brunn, who lies there in well-earned peace. The song was originally sung by Gus Elan, a Cockney comedian who is buried elsewhere, although fate would have it that his mother’s last resting place is in the cemetery. Another Le Brunn song was Oh, Mr Porter, made famous by Marie Lloyd, who sadly does not haunt Lambeth Cemetery. But James Fawn, known as the prince of the red-nosed comedians, does, and to remember him we sang Ask a p’liceman, which is otherwise known as. If you want to know the time ask a p’liceman.