Tom Leamore

Thomas Leamore (24 August 1866 – 6 September 1939) was an English popular variety comedian,[1] dancer and singer. He debuted at the Rodney Music Hall in 1880 and quickly grew into a successful stage performer, singing comically and dancing eccentrically with clogs. In December 1905 he portrayed Ali Baba in the pantomime of The Forty Thieves at the Marlborough Theatre, an experience he did not enjoy and never repeated. His best known song was Percy from Pimlico which he composed and wrote himself.[2] He was featured singing this song in the 1968 documentary A Little of What You Fancy. Tony Barker of Music Hall Records referred to him as "second only to Dan Leno".[3]

Tom Leamore

In November 1937 Leamore joined The Old Timers touring company with fellow artistes Tom Costello, George Mozart, Arthur Reece, James Stewart, Tom E. Finglass, Ada Cerito, Nell Calvert and Lottie Lennox, appearing with them in various venues across the UK. In December 1937 he took part in an early television programme for the BBC called Cavalcade of Music Hall broadcast from the Alexandra Palace along with George Mozart, Marie Kendall, Lizzie Collins, Talbot O'Farrell, Walter Williams, Charlie Lee and Sable Fern. At the end of the same month he also appeared in the television broadcast New Years Eve Party with Sam Mayo and Daisy Dormer.[2]

During February to April 1938 he continued to tour with The Old Timers, and from August to December 1938 appeared in the touring revue Time Marches On. In November 1938 Leamore was invited to take part in a Royal Command Performance during which he performed The Lambeth Walk with Lupino Lane and various other Music Hall veterans. In August 1939 he took part in Flashbacks of 30 Years Ago with Wilkie Bard, Ida Barr and Lillie Lassah.[2]

Leamore married three times: to Mary Anne Fleming, actress Rose Hamilton and Florence Palmer.

He died on 6 September 1939 and was buried in the Variety Plot at Streatham Park Cemetery.[4]