(1898-1979)
Town Hall Square, Rochdale
Born above a Rochdale fish and chip shop in 1898 Gracie spent her early life working in a cotton mill whilst also attending school and theatre groups where she graduated on to bigger stages. Actor, comedian and singer, Gracie went on to star in films and stage productions, performing globally, making her the world’s highest-paid female in the 1930’s. She earned honours not just for her career, but for her vast charitable work and generosity, but is best known for her work entertaining troops during the war where she travelled extensively.
But back to Rochdale. Heralded as the first statue of a woman to be erected in Greater Manchester in more than 100 years, it was unveiled in 2016, standing proudly outside the Grade 1 listed town hall. Phone camera at the ready I walk up to the Town Hall to be met by mass construction. It’s a Sunday so the machines are quiet, but unbeknown to me, the area is being re-developed and I can only gaze at Gracie through the fencing. She survives intact but surrounded by rubble – reminiscent of impromptu war time sing – a- longs with the troops perhaps?
I manage to slip my phone through the fencing and grab some inadequate shots of her. Must do better.
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