Pic - Steve's mum and dad and grandparents

Steve England writes:

One of my main interests is researching family history.  I discovered that my father’s side goes back to Captains and First Mates, from West Hartlepool, two of whom lost their lives when their ship was torpedoed in the First World War – something even my father did not know. 

Show business goes back several generations in my family, starting with my great grandfather who ran away to the Bronco Bill’s Circus when he was young. He learned acrobatics and how to spin ropes like a cowboy - and taught it to two of his children, Rhodes and Kay, who started an act called 'The Pavians'. Kay went on to run Billy Smart’s Circus with her husband Ronnie Smart.

His third child was my Grandfather Cecil, who taught himself rope spinning and stock whip cracking. He started the act that I grew up with called 'El Granadas'. My dad joined the act when he was old enough, adding unicycle riding to the act; and later, my mother joined and learned to spin ropes and ride unicycles too.

El Granadas & Peter were a spectacular act who toured all over the UK and Europe in theatres and, occasionally, circuses. They appeared ten times at the London Palladium with such stars as Judy Garland, Diana Shore, Danny Kaye and Jack Benny. They even did a Royal Command Performance.     

As a small child, I travelled everywhere with them – my life was theatre dressing rooms and sometimes big tops. Roy Castle saw me sleeping in a dressing room drawer as a baby and told mum he wished he’d started life in that way. Going across the Pennines one day, El Granadas were waved down by another act: two comedians, who wanted to see the baby. The baby was me and the act was Morecambe and Wise.  

After the Second World War, El Granadas & Peter were booked for appearances at the Moulin Rouge in France and The China Theatre in Copenhagen, as well as Sweden, Holland, France and Germany, where I was nearly kidnapped at Dusseldorf station – but that’s another story. 

By this time, my brother and sister were also travelling with us and it became impossible to look after three small children when the act was on the road all the time, let alone give us a proper schooling. Mum and Dad had to leave the act and settle down. Dad struggled to find work, but eventually became an entertainments manager for several local authorities.

My grandfather and grandmother carried on with El Granadas and my grandmother started a performing dog act too. 

My sister and I took mum’s unicycle on 'The Repair Shop' a few years ago as it had fallen into a very bad condition.

When mum was 90, we took her back to the London Palladium for a special personal tour authorised by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which included backstage and The Royal Box.

I've learned so much researching family history and I'd encourage you to record in audio or video the older members of YOUR family to learn your family history. You'll be so glad you did when they are no longer there to ask about their lives and those of your past generations. My own family history discoveries are here, if you're curious to find out more.  

Steve

Hear Steve England on Friday night at 6.00 on Boom Radio 

Pic - Steve (centre) as a child with Buffalo Bills Circus