#portobello

I don’t know a perfect person. I only know flawed people who are still worth loving.

-- John Green

the portobello fellow

On 26th February 1950 the entertainer and song writer, Sir Harry Lauder, died.

Harry was the eldest of seven children, Harry’s parents were John Lauder, a master potter, Porty was famous for it’s pottery works back in the day, the family moved to Derbyshire in 1882 where John Lauder was going to design china. However, he died on 20th April and they had to move to Isabella’s parents’ home in Arbroath.

When Harry left school aged about 12 he went to work in a flax mill. The family then moved to Hamilton where Harry worked in a coal mine. In 1891 he married Ann Vallance, daughter of the manager of the mine.

Harry’s fellow-workers, who whom he often sang, encouraged him to sing in local music halls. He joined a concert party and began touring, which enabled him to give up his job at the coal mine. By 1894 Harry had turned professional and was singing in London venues..

Though a few other songs contend for a place among his best, Roamin’ In The Gloamin’ seems to be the one most often remembered. and even nowadays must be one of the best known songs written in and about Scotland, come on everyone knows it;

Roamin’ in the gloamin’ on the bonnie banks o’ Clyde.

Roamin’ in the gloamin’ wae my lassie by my side.

When the sun has gone to rest,

That’s the time we love the best.

O, it’s lovely roamin’ in the gloamin.

On 28th December 1916, Harry’s only son John Lauder who was a Captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was killed at Pozières. Harry wrote the song “Keep Right on till the end of the Road” in memory of him. Captain Lauder was buried at Ovillers, France and his father had a memorial placed in his son’s memory in Glenbranter, the Lauder family home in Scotland.

For his many services to the war effort, Harry was knighted in 1919. Lady Lauder died in July 1927 and Harry continued to tour, sing and write songs. He retired in 1935. Apart from his songs, Harry also wrote several books and appeared in several films. He came out of retrieved in the Second World War, entertained troops in Britain and also took part in radio broadcasts.