People of Note
Sandy Powell
Born Albert Arthur Powell on 30th January 1900, the Rotherham born comedian was known for his famous catchphrase 'Can you hear me mother'.
He made his first appearance on stage at the age of 7 and began his working life at age 10.
His mother, Martha Powell, stage name Lily Le Main, was appearing in a small theatre near Liverpool in about 1907 where a talent competition was taking place. Sandy pleaded with his mother to take part and it was the theatre manager who persuaded Mrs. Powell to let her son appear. She would not let him win a prize but the manager gave him half a crown!
In 1935 he appeared at The Royal Variety Performance
Many institutions benefitted from his charity work, including in 1935, the Rotherham Hospital Reconstruction Scheme.
Shortly after appearing at The Regent for the Rotherham charity, Sandy was forced by doctors to take his first career break and he was ordered to have a complete rest in the South of France. The calls of Music Hall, radio, film and music studio work had taken their toll. At the time Sandy was appearing in pantomime at The Palace Theatre, Manchester.
The Comedian public house in Rotherham was named in his honour and opened by him in 1970.
He married 3 times first to Peggy Whitty - they had two children and were divorced 12th March, 1940. He married in 1942 to Katie Hughes. Katie died on 4th December, 1946, at their home 66 Whitley Court, she was 47. In 1951 he married Kay White.
In 1944 he performed for the Allied Forces in Normandy.
In January, 1963, his mother died aged 83, at his home in Eastbourne. She had retired before World War 2.
Sandy was awarded the MBE in 1975.
Sandy died on 26th June 1982.