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| Azzabuv Quote | Reply | | Cecil Berle posted on: 8/11/2004 2:00:29 PM Does anyone have any information on Cecil. He was a Shakespearian actor and stage magician. He was active in Heanor around 1914 and did charity work via the Heanor Town Hall. Two sites may be connected with his name - 'Berle House' and 'Berle Avenue'. |
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Peter Chamberlain
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/12/2004 2:37:59 PM The name Berle makes interesting reading in the 1901 census there are only 16 entries for the whole country. They seem to split into 3 main families Charles born KENT and The heads of the other two families both born Germany Peter |
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Azzabuv
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Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/12/2004 6:10:45 PM You're correct, Peter. It is/was a sparse surname in this Country. Translated from the French/German, it means 'Watercress/Water Parsnip'. Not that that throws much light on the subject - at present anyway. Several of the Berle family are resident in Heanor. In the 1801 Census, only one Berle was listed in the Country. Down South. (Charles?) Thanks for the info. Azzabuv |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 8/13/2004 3:44:33 PM by RMMee |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/13/2004 4:26:15 AM Peter Do any of the 1901 Berle's appear to have a theatrical connection, and were any in the Notts/Derbys area? |
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Peter Chamberlain
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/13/2004 10:44:57 AM Robert 1901 census does not show anyone with a Theatrical Connection no Cecil,or anyone residing in Notts/ Derbyshire Peter |
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Azzabuv
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Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/13/2004 2:07:02 PM Even with a recent tremendous amount of research and searching, Cecil appears to be a man of mystery. To have his name connected to two types of building constructions - Berle House - Berle Avenue and leave no record of his past presence in Heanor seems incredible. Or was there another person named Berle? Hopefully, someone skimming through the page, can bring enlightenment for all of us. Azzabuv |
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Peter Chamberlain
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/13/2004 5:38:18 PM Just been to Heanor Library There Card index comes up with Berle Cecil Photograph of Local Tailor. Great i thought a Photograph Not so the librarian thinks it has been sent to Pictures of the past to be put on the Website.Not on site yet but proves he existed Peter |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/17/2004 6:47:54 PM Having done some digging, I can confirm that the History Society does have a photo of Cecil Berle. I haven't seen it, but it will be in our next publication, which is about to go to print and will be available before Christmas. I understand that he's in "drag" though!!!!! Cecil was born in Heanor (I think on Derby Road!), but went to school at Smalley. His family then moved to Oldham in Lancashire, and much of his theatrical work was in that area. Eventually, his mother returned to the Heanor area, as did Cecil. I'm hopeful at obtaining a copy of his obituary. |
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Azzabuv
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 8/22/2004 9:33:30 PM by Azzabuv |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/22/2004 9:31:22 PM You're correct, Robert. Cecil was born in 1861, on Derby Rd; His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wightman, his Father being a Tailor by trade. However............. ..........'White's Directory of Derbys. 1857' lists a Thomas Whiteman, of West Hill, as a Tailor also. It seems there could be a bit of name slippage occurring. It seems as though Berle was probably his stage name? I wonder if he ever toured the Northern music halls of the 1880s onwards, under the name 'Whiteman', at sometime or other? Perhaps if there's an Old Time Music Hall enthusiast among us, all will be revealed? Azzabuv. |
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Peter Chamberlain
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/25/2004 7:04:47 AM Cecil appears on the 1871 census living on Tagg Hill as Thomas C Whiteman aged 9 |
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Azzabuv
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Cecil Berle
replied on: 8/25/2004 12:59:18 PM Hi, Peter - i thought you'd migrated to dryer climes. Does the 1871 Census give his house number on Tagg Hill? Also, why he adopted the name Berle/Watercress/Water Parsnip is a complete mystery. Were there any place(s) round about Heanor were watercress was grown intentionally? The nearest place i know of was Smalley in days gone by and Berle House appeared to be situated in, or very near Smalley. Azzabuv. |
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Azzabuv
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/3/2004 11:30:37 AM by Azzabuv |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 9/3/2004 11:26:49 AM Robert, Peter, - Have just received Cecil's 1902 stage photograph from Brian. Wow, that's some make-up he's wearing. At least, i hope it's make-up. It certainly wasn't the 'Laughing Cavalier' he was playing there. 'Hamlet'? Thankfully, that's a bit more information concerning him. More to come, hopefully. I'm so curious to know if Berle House was actually named by him, or named after him by someone? Azzabuv. |
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RMMee
Moderator Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/6/2004 7:02:00 AM by RMMee |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 9/4/2004 5:15:01 PM Here's the History Society's picture of Cecil (courtesy of Azzabuv) Interesting looking man!!!! It was taken in 1902, when Cecil was 42 years. 
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Azzabuv
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/6/2004 7:57:14 PM by Azzabuv |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 9/6/2004 12:51:35 AM Cecil Berle - 1861 - 1937 Obituary from 'The Observer and Langley Mill Chronicle', Thursday, February 11th 1937. Mr. Thomas Cecil Wightman, better known locally as Cecil Berle, of Derby Road, Heanor, passed away in Heanor Memorial Hospital on Sunday at the age of 76 and by his death, Heanor has lost one of its best known and most popular personalities. Mr. Berle was born on Derby Road, Heanor, in 1861, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Wightman, Mr. Berle being a tailor by trade. Cecil received his first education at Smalley School and after a while removed with his parents to Oldham, Lancashire. There he secured employment as a telegraph boy and one of his earliest recollections was of carrying a telegram in connection with the famous Tichborn trial. During the time he was engaged as a telegraph boy, Mr. Berle visited a pantomime and was so taken up with the performance that he renewed his visits until he knew every word of the whole show. Mr. Berle later moved to Manchester to take up a situation at Mr. Watt's warehouse where he stayed for ten years. He joined the Mechanics Dramatic club and played all the halls in the Manchester district. He was complimented by Sir Abel Heywood on his costume character song "Flippity Flop, Young Man" and was the first character humorist engaged by Edward de Jong for his popular concerts at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. Mr. Berle also appeared at the Old Queen's Theatre, St James's theatre and at the Comedy Theatre for Mrs. Lottie Collins's benefit, after which he fulfilled a three months engagement in the Isle of Man at the Wellington Hall, returning to fulfil engagements at Southport Pier and the Empire, Blackpool. He was subsequently engaged by the Oldham Educational (Co-op) Committee to give his entertainment 'Tears and Smiles', occupying the whole of one Winter season, appearing at Halifax, Leeds and Burnley and singing in the presence of the notorius Jabez Balfour. Entering a competition at Burnley, in which there were 33 humorists, Mr. Berle was successful in winning the character prize. He also won prizes at Leeds, Accrington, Bolton, Preston, Rochdale, Southport, Bradford, Hebden Bridge, Lilleboro' and other places. Mr. Berle also appeared with the famous Ben Brierley (Aboth O'Yate), the Lancashire author at Rochdale Town Hall. Soon afterwards this place was burnt down. Joining Robertson and Holmes's Kentucky Minstrels, forty in number, all went well for a time until eventually the company were left stranded at Bishop Auckland. Returning to Oldham and finding acute distress prevailing in the town, Mr. Berle arranged a charity performance to provide the kiddies with clogs Etc. and in a very few days handed forty guineas to the Chief Constable of Manchester. Mr. Berle also appeared at Stockport, where he was on the same programme as the famous Simms Reeves. He next toured with Charlie Cookson's Comic Carnival Company appearing at Todmorden, Earlstown, Northwich and many other places. Visiting Scotland, he appeared at Stirling with John Paley, the great cornet player, this being followed by Alloa, Falkirk, Selkirk, Edinburgh Etc. Afterwards he went on a Yorkshire tour with the Bros Newman Concert Party. In the cause of Charity. In his travelling days, Mr. Berle generally happened to be on a visit to his home at the time of the Heanor Old Fellowship(?) Trust at which he delighted to give assistance. On the death of his father, he was naturally called nearer to his mother, who was an invalid. Though settling down among his friends, he was called away many times in the cause of charity and was never known to refuse when it was possible for him to help. Promoters of entertainments never appealed to him in vain and though he helped to raise large sums of money over a long period of years for various individual and collective charities, it was not until 1925 that a concert was arranged for his own benefit. This was organised by a publicly chosen committee, the programme arrangements being mainly the work of Mr. Edward Buxton. Eight years later, another benefit was arranged for Mr. Berle by Mr. Percy C. Smith. On both occasions the Town Hall was packed to overflowing, the attendance being a notable tribute to Mr. Berle's popularity and the esteem in which he was held by all sections of the community. The Internment. Preceding the internment at the Marlpool cemetery on Tuesday, a service was conducted at the Heanor Wesley Church, where in his boyhood days Mr. Berle was a scholar in the Sunday School. This was conducted by the Reverend Eric Kenworthy and attended by a large congregation which included representatives of the numerous organisations in which the deceased had been interested - Heanor Town and Trades Association, Heanor Labour Club, Heanor Social Club, Heanor Memorial Hospital and others. |
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Azzabuv
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Cecil Berle
replied on: 9/17/2004 6:28:27 PM Does anyone know Cecil's grave number/site and/or his memorial inscription? Azzabuv. |
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Peter Chamberlain
Researcher Quote | Reply | |
Cecil Berle
replied on: 9/18/2004 8:20:07 AM If you contact The Officer in charge of Cemetaries at Amber Valley Borough Council you can arrange to see the burial entries for that date and check the plot number |
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