Du Maurier Forum
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William and Annie Walford
I am a descendant of the Walford Family who ran concert parties and started touring in 1877. I am writing a book about my family and trying to prove a Du Maurier connection. I was given the following information by my cousin:'William Walford settled in Fowey, Cornwall,and ran the cinema with his wife Annie. It is obvious that William and Annie lived a bohemian lifestyle in their younger days and moved in influential circles with Daphne Du Maurier and Marconi as part of their crowd.'
Advice please. | Fri 22/09/17 07:31 PM |
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| Sally, As you know I have been researching the Walfords and my gg grandparents for years. There is a marvellous site (Noahs Arc, Fowey who have a huge following. Researching my mothers side the paternal (Welsh's) brought a huge response from the Polruan people. When I moved to her maternal side (The Walfords) information was almost non existant. I have photos showing the Annie, Willie, Iris and Hilda (Peggy) with significant contacts - they were in Fowey terms movers and shakers but almost impossible to get information on them. One thing is absolutely certain - The Welsh Maids were an Annie\ Willie business with no input from any other family members. From Campanology Sam (Chard), Willie (Fowey) and Clarrie (Tavistock) not only opened cinemas they also had 'pop up' films and newsreels in many southwest villages. | Posted on Sat 12/09/20 04:53 PM |
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| William created the Royal Borough Cinema on North Street, Fowey, in 1913. He owned and ran the cinema at the same time as touring with his Welsh Maids show. His wife was Annie Evans Walford, a popular Welsh soprano and, at one time, piano accompanist to silent movies. William died in 1921 and Annie took over the management of the cinema. In 1938 she became manager of the Troy Cinema on Fore Street. She died in 1945.
Many well known personalities visited the Royal Borough cinema including Lady du Maurier (the actress Muriel Beaumont), mother of Daphne. | Posted on Tue 27/10/20 04:27 PM |
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| "In November 1944, a gala evening was organised at the Troy Cinema, Fowey, in honour of the movie adapted from Frenchman's Creek, directed by Mitchell Liesen. Daphne du Maurier, in a long dress, attended with her mother and sisters. She disliked the Californian Technicolor sunsets, so far removed from the Fowey estuary and suppressed a shudder of disgust at Joan Fontaine's red wig. Despite the extravagance of the costumes, which she disapproved of, the film was quite well done and she was happy to learn that the book was selling again as a consequence".
Manderley Forever, A Biography of Daphne du Maurier, by Tatiana de Rosnay | Posted on Wed 28/10/20 05:56 PM |
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| I have just come into possession of a copy of a charming photographs showing a group of various ages in front of a banner "Walford Family ..... Campanologists" It may be a photo of a postcard? There are 6 people on it all holding hand bells - happy to share if of interest | Posted on Thu 23/02/23 05:01 PM |
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| My great great grand parents, Edward and Fanny Walford and their 7 children comprised the Walford Family - campanologists and I would love to see any memorabilia associated with them. | Posted on Tue 01/08/23 10:28 AM |
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| Hello, I am researching the Royal Borough Theater to discover more as I am in possession of a large set of glass lantern slides from the theater 1918. Many great hand-etched slides announcing upcoming films, Like Chaplin's A Dog Life, as well as local announcements. They are in perfect shape. I will archive them soon and share some more details, they are so unique and well preserved. | Posted on Sat 05/08/23 07:13 PM |
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| William and Annie Walford were my great great grandparents. She was a Welsh Soprano from the Rhondda Valley who joined the Walford Family (initially campanologists) before moving into an orchestral direction. 3 of the 4 Walford men moved into the Cinema business working closely with Albany Ward. Sam (Chard and Ilminster) Clarence (Tavistock) and William (Fowey) I have photographs of both the Royal Borough and Try Cinemas but would love to see any memorabilia you may have
| Posted on Wed 20/09/23 02:18 PM |
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