Classic-Banjo

A Site Dedicated to all enthusiasts of Classic Style Banjo

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Comment by Barry Collins on January 12, 2013 at 18:30: Hi Skip,

Miss May Darrell, real name May Fanny Collins is my 1st cousin, and the daugter of my Great-Aunt Sarah Jane Collins, who herself was a music hall performer in Sheffield, singing comic songs according to another relative. She probably met her husband Benjamin Doubleday in a music hall.

Benjamin was an accomplished musician and is the person seated next to May in the photo you have. As you know their is a third person in this photo and that is May's sister Ettie, another accomplished musician.

Sadly May died in 1918 from Cancer while running the Shakespere Inn on Well Road, Sheffield.

Following is a photo of May playing her Banjo !.

Barry Collins..........

Comment by skip sail on January 16, 2013 at 23:01: I just got back from Tasmania to find this email.

Absolutely amazing! what a beautiful photo,and great info.

Will post some more when I catch up on sleep, but THANK YOU BARRY!!!!!!

Comment by Richard William Ineson on January 17, 2013 at 14:42: I used to live about 300 metres from the Shakespeare on Well Road, when I was a boy, the father of one of my mates, surname Fox, used to be the landlord, probably from the 1920s, my mate took over when he died and only retired himself a few years ago. The pub is quite unusual in that it has/had a very steep staircase leading up from the street, into the bar. Also, I have a piece of banjo music, written by Doubleday of Sheffield (I often wondered who he was) I cannot remember the title, but I will search through the mouldering pile of paper and hopefully, come up with it.

Comment by Richard William Ineson on January 17, 2013 at 15:32: I found it, at least the title page. It is quite an early Turner solo, No.53.

Comment by Trapdoor2 on January 17, 2013 at 19:45: I have the rest if you want it. 1st, 2nd, Piano. We were sent home from work today due to snow (which is a rarity here...traffic is completely crazy). I think I'll TAB out the 1st banjo for it just for fun.

Comment by Louisa May Gingell on January 10, 2014 at 20:13: I would love to see the rest of this. It was written by my great great grandfather. Ihave two of his other compositions - 54 and 55 in the same series named for his two daughters May and Ettie.

Comment by Richard William Ineson on September 9, 2014 at 17:17: The Olde Shakespeare Inn, on Well Road, Sheffield, has just reopened, it is now owned by a group of ukulele players, who have a band which specialises in songs about Sheffield, the band is called 'The Everley Pregnant Brothers', I called in yesterday afternoon for a pint.

Comment by Russell Stones on April 25, 2015 at 12:02: Hello i would like to know if anyone recognises any of the faces in this old photograph. My great great grandfather William Watson is seated far right. He was an entertainer around Sheffield in the 1880s where he did a comedy sketch wearing oversize boots. Could the three in the middle be the Darrell Trio?

Comment by skip sail on April 26, 2015 at 1:54: hmm, its possible that the gent in the middle is Benjamin Doubleday, but I'm not sure about the lass on his right being May Collins(Darrell).