Nostalgia: Fred's Army

12:06pm Thursday 17th April 2008

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For pictures illustrating this article, see this week's Richmond and Twickenham Times

Fred Karno Frederick John Westcott started as a jack-of-all-trades as a young boy to earn his keep at home, and soon managed to afford 6d to use a local gymnasium. He found he had a natural talent, going on to win prizes.

Speaking to the Hampton and Hampton Hill Townswomen's Guild, Ron Smedley said that at one event, held in a theatre, he saw a professional tightrope walker, got an audition and was taken on for a month (unpaid). He became part of the act at 12s. a week.

By now he had got the theatrical bug and persuaded two friends to join him and form an act. On a summer booking they came to Molesey Lock and saw for the first time the beautiful houseboats.

Fred said, 'I'm going to have one of those one day', and he did. After a career taking him to theatres all over this country and America, he became a famous impresario, realised his boyhood dream and bought the Astoria, the magnificent houseboat now moored on the Thames at Hampton.

By now he had become very rich and mixed with the 'swells'. He bought Taggs Island in 1912 and it became the most splendid entertainments centre in the country with 5000 people turning up to the opening.

Sadly it was not to last, he was forced to sell the Astoria and his Rolls-Royce. Declared bankrupt, no-one wanted him and he died almost penniless at the age of 75 in 1940.