STEPS TO FAME

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 290, 2 September 1933, Page 17

STEPS TO FAME

Composer Charles Willeby SOME REMINISCENCES Reminiscences of his acquaintance with the song-writer, Charles Willeby, whose classification as a New Zealand composer by competitors in the Wellington competitions was challenged recently by Dr. Cyril Jeakins, are given by Mr. Cecil Palmer, of Wellington. , “In 1887 and 1888,” Mr. Palmer writes, “Willeby was an extra clerk in the Government Life Insurance, and as a cadet I pat alongside him in the old Provincial Buildings. He was al 1 ways humming tunes at his work, and at 5 o’clock sharp he would be off like a shot to Hoffman’s music shop in Willis Street (where the Grand Hotel now stands). Surrounded by musical friends he would there hold forth with his rich tenor voice, and improvise the most delightful accompaniment. "When the soprano Mary Hume (whom he afterward married) toured New Zealand about 1889, she engaged Willeby as pianist at Wellington, and he was given leave to go with the company to Nelson. He also followed them on to Christchurch, and “got the sack”, in consequence. “The songs that he later published in England became famous later as a result of the visit of the present King and Queen to Wellington in 1901. Before her first marriage Willeby’s mother had been one of the malds-in-waiting at the court of the Duchess of Mecklenberg Strelitz, and had coached the present Queen, then a girl of thirteen or so, In English and French. On the occasion of the New Zealand visit the old Duchess had got her niece to send for Mrs. Willeby-Hawthorn, and I met her on Wellington Terrace when she was hurrying on her way down to the Hotel Cecil to meet their Royal Highnesses. She came round to our home in the evening and gave an Interesting Recount of her reception. As she entered the drawing-room the Duchess (now Queen Mary) said to the Duke, “Here, George, is someone who knew me long before you did.” After talking over old times and receiving authographed photos of several of the Royal Family, Mrs. WillebyHawthorn took her departure, handing to the Duchess an album of her son’s songs. Some nine months later Ada Crossley gave an interview to a “Sydney Morning Herald” reporter, and described how she sang at Buckingham Palace by Royal command. She said that as she entered the music room “Queen Alexander was seated at the piano, and In front of her was an album of Willeby’s songs.” Naturally be became the fashion. "When again in London in 1993,” writes Mr. Palmer, “my wife, and I heard Ada Crossley 'at Queen’s Hall in some of Willeby’s songs, which were vociferously encored. His mother was with us at the time; in fact, she. had asked us to come and hear ‘some of Charley’s songs.’ ”