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Hi Everyone,

My great-grandfather Harry Clifford had a cousin called Dorothy Parfitt who was born in Clutton, Somerset in 1909. She used to sing on the radio and the family would tune in to listen to her.

Please can anyone tell me if it is possible to research someone who was on the radio circa. the 1950's? I would like to find out what programmes she used to sing on and for how long her career lasted.

From what I have been told, she kept the name of Parfitt even though she may have married. Parfitt being a popular surname in the Clutton area has made it difficult to trace her marriage and/or death. It may have been registered in London, but I am unsure about this.

Kind Regards,
Karen

Hello Karen - have you googled for info?

Hi Ann,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have. There is a Dorothy Parfitt mentioned on there who was a singer, who was a teacher at Kingsbury Episcopi school in Somerset, but it doesn't mention which years she taught there to know if it could be the same Dorothy. I don't know if the Dorothy in my family was a teacher as well as a singer, but it could be a possibility.

Kind Regards,
Karen

Karen,

There was no Dorothy Parfitt birth registered in Clutton in 1909 but there was one in 1908. If that was her then she had a second forename:

Births Jun 1908
Parfitt Dorothy Irene Clutton 5c 452

I can only spot one Dorothy I Parfitt marriage which was in Paddington in 1946 which might be her:

Name: Dorothy I Parfitt
Spouse Surname: Robert L Emeric
Date of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec 1946
Registration district: Paddington
Inferred County: London
Volume Number: 5d
Page Number: 405

Name: Dorothy Irene Emeric
Birth Date: 23 Apr 1908
Date of Registration: Jun 1998
Age at Death: 90
Registration district: Chiltern and South Bucks
Inferred County: Buckinghamshire
Register Number: B19B
District and Subdistrict: 3251B
Entry number: 267

Hi Jonesey,

Thank you very much for the information. That could be her.

Kind Regards,
Karen

Do not know whether or not it is the same person but it stands a chance:

Dorothy Parfitt was a soprano chorister with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from May to October 1937.

Found a few newspapers with brief mentions of Dorothy and some radio listings. career seems to have been late 1930s to early 1940s.

Have sent them by message to Karen.

Thanks again to all of you for your help so far. I have ordered the certificates relating to Dorothy Irene Parfitt and will post the outcome once received.

Karen

Hi,

I have received the certificates and think it may be the correct Dorothy, although her father is listed as Edward John Frederick Parfitt, whereas I have him as Henry John Frederick Parfitt from the census records. The mother's name is the same. He is simply John on the marriage certificate.

Dorothy Emeric's death certificate states her occupation is a retired singing teacher.

My relatives that are still living are certain that Dorothy was on the radio in the 1950's, but I have found no records so far, apart from the Home Service North listing in the newspaper copy from 1941 that MarieCeleste kindly sent me.

Thanks again for the help so far.
Karen

Births Dec 1884
Parfitt Henry John F Clutton 5c 569

Marriages Sep 1907
FLOWER Laura Bristol 6a 43
PARFITT Henry John F Bristol 6a 43

If the mother's maiden name is indicated on Dorothy's birth certificate then there is no doubt that you have the correct Dorothy.

The father is indicated as just John Parfitt on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census records.

John's parents marriage:

Marriages Jun 1884
Parfitt John Moore Bristol 6a 124
Ruddle Kate Bristol 6a 124

Hi Jonesey,

Thanks. The information you have found today on John is what I had previously, so I'm thinking the name Edward must be a mistake on Dorothy's birth certificate. Laura Parfitt (nee Flower) is listed as the mother and was the informant.

Karen