15 Facts About Will Fyffe

Will Fyffe, CBE was a Scottish music hall and performing artist on stage and screen during the 1930s and 1940s.

Will Fyffe travelled extensively throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK, playing the numerous music halls of the time, where he performed his sketches and sang his songs in an inimitable style.

Will Fyffe was Freemason, who was initiated and then became a full member of Lodge St John, Shotts No 471.

Will Fyffe left some rare footage of his stage act, which gives a glimpse of stage life in these times.

Will Fyffe died after falling from a window in the Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews in December 1947.

Will Fyffe was born on 16 February 1885 in a tenement at 36 Broughty Ferry Road, Dundee, the eldest child of John Fyffe, a ship's carpenter, and Janet Rhynd Cunningham, a music teacher.

Will Fyffe's father was interested in theatrical entertainment and operated a Penny Geggy, in which Will gained experience as a character actor.

Will Fyffe appealed against conscription in 1918 on grounds of his occupation, serious hardship and ill health.

Will Fyffe would start his song, pausing in the middle to give a monologue with details of the song's story, then resume the song where he left off.

In 1937, Will Fyffe appeared in the Royal Command Performance at the London Palladium, one of numerous appearances, and he became regarded as Queen Elizabeth's favourite entertainer.

In 1939, Will Fyffe was the ninth most popular British star at the box office.

Will Fyffe was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1942 Birthday Honours.

Will Fyffe was so popular that the Empire Theatre in Glasgow ran a 'Will Fyffe' competition, with dozens of entrants singing "I Belong to Glasgow".

Heavily disguised as himself, Will Fyffe entered the competition for a bet, but he only won the second prize.

Will Fyffe was buried in his adopted home city of Glasgow, at Lambhill Cemetery, three days later.