PARTED BY DEATH

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11767, 14 October 1932, Page 3

PARTED BY DEATH

THE END OF THE ROAD

HARRY LAUDER'S .MANAGER

LONG STA GE PAR I N ERSIJIP.

Tragedy enacted behind the scenes brought to an end a stage companionship of 3G years when Mr. Tom A allance, Sir Harry Lauder’s manager and virtual “shadow”, passed away at the Palace Theatre, Blackpool, Lancashire, on. August 13. A brother ol the late Lady Lauder, Mr. Anllance for some time had been suffering from heart trouble, and he had a. fatal seizure when Sir Harry went on the stage to give his performance. His last- words before lie collapsed wore “It is very but tonight.”

Sir Harry, wlm gave his turn with the greatest difficulty, "as brokenhearted by the sad event. “I fuel his loss, - ’ he said, “as that of a brother ■rather than a brother-in-law. At the first house Tom dressed me at Hie wings as usual, lit my cigarette, and • put' it in any mouth us J went on to sing ‘She’s mu’ Daisy.’ “When I came off to change Jor The next song I was told that Tom was dll. 1 immediately sensed the worst, but the performance had to go on. Willing hands struggled to dress me, and although assured that Tom was all right i did nob believe it. “I was in a franco when J. went en again to sing ‘Tlie End of the Road.’ As I sang I knew by intuition that poor Tom had already reached ‘L]io end of tlie road.’ “When the curtain dropped 3. ran to the dressing room, and one glance revealed that Tom would never speak to me again. He died, they told me, on the couch in his room when J. was singing ‘She’s mu’ Daisy.-’ “Tom was more to me than I can describe,” Sis Harry continued with difficulty. “He never neglected anything. We travelled the world together for 3G years, in my struggling duys and any prosperous ones, and he was always my sheet anchor in time of crisis. His death is the third great tragedy of my life since 1917 —first, my aen and only efiild, John, then my wife, and. now my brother-in-law and life-long companiou.’ ’ ■No woman could liopo to have equalled Tom at his task of looking alter jjjr Harry Lauder's allairs. A wizard with the needle, lie even kept in repair the character costumes that the famous comedian wore. AR Had to face him, and lie was responsible for Sir Harry’s entire corresponds cnee.. ‘

■' As a lad Mr. Vallaneo worked in ifip coal pits at Hamilton, Lancashire, and while there'ho played football for Hamilton Academicals. It was ; then that ho contracted the weakness that caused hm death. Hie and Lady Lauder were the eldest son and daughter in ar family of 17.