Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields real name Grace Stansfield (1898-1979). British singer and film actress. Born in Rochdale, Lancashire, she first made her name in a touring revue (1918-25). Her songs, mainly sentimental ballads and comic numbers such as ‘The Biggest Aspidistra in the World’ were extremely popular, as were her film musicals of the 1930’s. Between 1928 and 1957 she took part in eight royal command performances. Having been made a DBE in 1979, she died a few months later in Capri, which had been her home for many years.
