Elsie

Was there any precedent in the family for music or the theatre?

Oh father was very fond of music, very fond of music indeed. And when we were there were six of us, you know, four brothers and we two. And when we were five years old, as we came to be five years old, we all had to learn to play the piano.

What was the next step after the family orchestra?

Well, um Elsie began playing her violin. Ah, people kept asking her to play her violin at all sorts of little bazaars and concerts and things, and I went along to accompany her. And she said one day, she said, 'You know, you must uh learn to do something else. People won't pay you just to come along and play for me.' … And so I she said, 'You must tell some stories.' I said, 'Oh, I couldn't possibly do that.' But I did, and then she began writing me little funny songs. We thought they were funny. The audience didn't sometimes.

Why did you say no to Mr Pepper's offer to go to Southwold?

Well, we saw it mother didn't like us to wear short skirts.