17 Facts About Annette Mills

Annette Mills was born in Wandsworth, London, the daughter of teacher Lewis Mills and his wife Edith.

Annette Mills was the aunt of Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills.

Annette Mills intended becoming a concert pianist; but after her fiance was killed in action, she married, had a daughter, and worked as a dancing teacher in Notting Hill.

Annette Mills wrote "A Feather in Her Tyrolean Hat", recorded by Gracie Fields in 1936, and wrote and sang the novelty dance song "Boomps a-Daisy", recording it with the Joe Loss Orchestra in 1939.

Annette Mills composed "Adolf", sung by Arthur Askey in the 1940 film Band Waggon.

Annette Mills appeared in cabarets and revues in London and Paris, and wrote the music and lyrics for C B Cochran's shows.

Annette Mills wrote short stories and plays during the period, some of which were broadcast.

Annette Mills made her first BBC Television appearance in June 1946, as a singer, pianist and story teller on For the Children.

Annette Mills suggested that the top of her piano could be used as a stage for puppets to illustrate her stories, and a disused marionette of a mule, whom she called "Muffin", was used.

Annette Mills is best remembered for being the partner of "Muffin" between 1946 and 1955.

Annette Mills wrote the songs and the music, including Muffin's popular theme song, while puppeteer Ann Hogarth wrote the scripts.

Muffin the Mule used to clip-clop around on top of the piano, whilst Annette Mills played a tune.

Annette Mills wrote several Muffin the Mule songbooks and an adventure tale about him, as well as making records.

Annette Mills was married twice, with a daughter, Molly Blake, by her first husband, Henry McClenaghan; her second marriage, to Robert Sielle, ended in divorce.

Annette Mills became a life member of the Vegan Society in 1952.

Annette Mills died from a heart attack in hospital after an operation on a brain tumour.

Annette Mills bequeathed her body to the Royal College of Surgeons.