Troupe Members

Name (Life Dates)

Troupe

Dates

Notes

Ayling, Herbert Henry (Bert) (26 Jan 1896 – 1988)

Pender

1914*

Born in Lambeth, London [1896 JFM Lambeth 01D 374]

Son of James Richard Ayling and Margaret Keating

He was baptised at St. Peter’s Church, Vauxhall on 19th Feb 1896

He died in Q2 of 1988 in Lancashire aged 92

Many thanks to Leslie Ayling, Bert’s grandson for clarifying his date of birth, which in turn allowed me to clarify his parentage.

*1914 is the earliest known date with the troupe but Leslie believes that it may be as early as 1912.

Baker, Joseph (c. 1884 – 1947)

aka Joe Pender

Pender

Link to Personal Profile

Barnes, John (c. 1881 – ????)

Pender

Lomas

1926

1927

Also known as ‘Wee Johnny Barnes’

Nationality: Irish

Born: Belfast

Played ‘Half Pint’ in “From the Bottom to the Top”

See The Richmond Item, 1925-12-13

1926 Passenger list gives age as 43, and address as 5 Merryfull, Portobello, Edinburgh

Wife is Mrs J Barnes, 5 Maryfield, Portobello, Edinburgh

Bithell, Fred

Lomas (I)

1897 – 1901

Apparently Fred had a bird act.

However, in 1901 he is looking for a position.
The Era - 26 Oct 1901

Bobbie

Brooks, Leslie (c. 1904 – ????)

Pender

Dewbery, Albert William/Crispin (c. 1894 – ????)

Pender

1914

Link to personal profile

Dixon, Rowland

Pender

Link to personal profile 

Edna

Pender

Name comes from caricature in Doris’s autograph book 

Ernie

Pender

Props-man.

Surname unknown.

We know about him from newspaper cutting showing him, aged 76, with Doris Pender. Unfortunately we don’t have a date for the cutting, but my guess would be sometime in the 1960s

Grant, Cary

Pender

See Leach, Archibald Alec

Harper, Patrick Frederick (c. 1898 – ????)

Pender

Harry

Pender

Name comes from caricature in Doris’s autograph book

Hart(man), Henry John – Jack Hart (1901 – ????)

Pender

Lomas

1927

Real name Henry John Hart/Hartman

Believed to have married to Doris sometime before 1936.

Married Olive Watts in 1937

Hunt, Reginald Leonard (Q2 1896 – ????)

Pender

1914

Jimmy

Pender

Name comes from caricature in Doris’s autograph book

Jones, Edward

Lomas

1928

Brother of Helena Jones who married Thomas Lomas

Address in 1927 was 115 Hope St., Salford. Travelling to NY with Tom & Helena Lomas.

Jubb, Charles William (c. 1901 – ????)

Lomas

1927

1927 Passenger list.

Home address: 21 Clarendon Road, Leeds.

Leach, Archibald Alec (1904 – 1986)

Pender

Became Cary Grant

Link to personal profile

Leigh, Alfred

Pender

1921

Is in the 1921 Census living with Maria Ratcliffe who is Bob Pender (Lomas)’s mother. He describes himself as an assistant to Maria but lists Bob Pender as his previous employer but is out of work.

He is aged 15 and born in Chapel en le Frith.

Listakova, Mlle

Pender

Lomas, Doris – Doris Pender (1897 – 1975)

Pender

Lomas

1914

1927

Real name Doris Wilhelmina Lomas

Daughter of Bob and Maggie

Doris married twice.

The first, to Henry (Jack) Hart (or Hartman) has yet to be found.

The second was to William Southam

When she married William Southam she gave her name as Doris W Hart

In 1927 the troupe arrive back in Southampton from New York.

Everyone is travelling under their own names (i.e. not Pender as they did sometimes)

Doris is listed as Doris Hart, Housewife, next to Henry John Hart and both give the same address.

The same is true in 1928

In 1921 she arrived in New York as Doris Wilhelmina Lomas.

This would imply that any marriage took place between 1921 and 1927

In 1939 her and her husband have a hotel in Worcestershire, so presumably she has also given up the troupe.

Link to personal profile

Lomas, Margaret – Maggie Pender (1877 – 1943)

Pender

Margaret was born Margaret Louise Bowman in Holborn, London on 3rd May 1877

In the 1891 census she is living with her parents.

She gives her age as 13 and occupation as Actress.

Five years later she marries Robert Lomas. How they met is anyone’s guess

It was suggested by one reader that she appeared in the Folies Bergere as a ballet mistress. This is corroborated by an Autobiography of Cary Grant.

The Folies Bergere started (as a cabaret) in 1872 so it is technically possible that she performed there, but I feel that it is unlikely that she would have been a ballet mistress given her age. I can find no family connection to the theatre, and as far as I can tell, she was an only child. Her mother, Wilhelmina, had been widowed 5 years after her first marriage.  Wilhelmina and Thomas Bowman were living in the same house in 1871 and they married a year later.

Link to personal profile

Lomas, Richard

Richard seems to have branched out from his brothers at some point.
He appears for many years as ‘Jacko the Man Monkey’ and appears to have been touring independently.
In 1905 his wife Margaret, is on the same bill as a Ballad Vocalist, using her maiden name as Madge Allwood’.
Link to personal profile

Lomas, Robert Jr – Bob Pender (1871 – 1939)

Lomas (I)

Pender

In 1939 he is a toyshop owner. He and his wife are living in a hotel owned/run by his son-in-law and daughter.

Link to personal profile

Lomas, Robert Sr

Lomas (I)

Lomas, Thomas – Thomas Pender (1877 – ????)

Pender

Younger brother of Bob

Lomas, William Barratt – William Pender (1879 – 1935)

Pender

Notman, John Charles (Q3 1896 – ????)

Pender

Lomas

1914

1926

1927

Son of John George Notman and Alice Rose Hurt

Wife was called Charlotte Jane. Can’t find a suitable marriage.

Both born in London

Her father: Frederick Bonney, 4 Hirchell Rd, Peckham, London

He and his wife travelled on SS Majestic from Southampton to New York in 1927 (27 July).He was 31 and she was 30.

Home address was 38 Ellisto? Row, St Georges Road, London

Both intended to reside permanently in the USA

Actor & Actress

1926 Passenger list gives ages as 29 and address as 4 Buchell Road, Queens Road, Peckham, London

Pender, Joe

Pender

See Joseph Baker above

Power, Will – Will Compo / Will Pender

Pender

Real name Will Power
Grandfather of Rosie
Married in 1889 in Newton Heath

Link to personal profile

Purser, Robert George

Pender

In the troupe in the early 1920s
[https://www.genesreunited.com.au/boards/board/general_chat/thread/1213791]

Probably born Q1 1908

Ratcliffe, Daniel Percy (1886 – 1918)

Pender

Married to Winifred Williams
With the troupe prior to WW1
Known as Percy.
Was believed to have been a tightrope walker.
Died during WW1 –  7th June 1918 aged 32

Reed, Nellie

Robert Lomas Troupe

1900

Standing in for Maggie Lomas during her pregnancy
The Era - 3 Jun 1899

Riscoe, Johnnie

Pender

Smith, Charles Wilfred (Q2 1887 –  1917)

Pender

He was born in Oldham in Q2 1887, the son of Charles Smith and Angelina, nee Pearce.

The Late Sapper Smith
The sad news has been received of the death ion action on July 31st of Sapper Charles Wilfred Smith, Royal Engineers, oldest son of Mr Smith, florist, of Victoria Market, Oldham. He was 30 years of age and leaves a widow and three children who live at Oldham Road, Rochdale. He enlisted fourteenth months ago, before which he carried on the business of fruiterer and florist, and for some years he toured with the Lomas Troupe. His widow is the daughter of Captain Payne, a well-known showman.

The World’s Fair 18 August 1917

Wife: Martha Payne. Married: Q3 1907 Oldham 8d 1551
In 1911 he lists himself as Theatrical Stage Assistant. They have one child at this point, Thomas William Smith, born 1908.

Smith, Henry (c. 1897 – ????)

Pender

1914

Smith, William Minchin (Q2 1891 – ????)

Pender

Was missing his middle finger on his right hand.
In 1911 census he is listed as being ‘Assistant at Theatre’. Living in Holborn, London with his parents.Son of William James Smith and Kate Elizabeth Minchin

Turner, George – George Pender

Pender

Watts, Olive (1896 – ????)

Pender

Married Jack Hart in 1937

Williams, Winifred (1882 – ????)

Pender

Married to Daniel Percy Ratcliffe
Grandmother of Diane Hatwell
With the troupe prior to WW1
Believed to have been a dancer.