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GODDARD Family Line
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Notes
We have traced our GODDARD family line back to Ipswich, Suffolk, in the early C18. From their earliest known records as iron moulders, they mainly worked in the engineering industry.
Characters
John Goddard
(c1859 - after 1931) left his engineering roots to
become a professional entertainer and ventriloquist.
As well as performing locally in the Leicester area he was summoned to perform before Royalty. His first Royal Command performance was at a concert in celebration of Princess Mary's wedding at Sandringham. Princess Mary, the daughter of Prince George, Duke of York (later King George V), was married on 28 February 1922.
He was the subject of an article in the Leicester Evening Mail dated 19 May 1931. The copy is incomplete and indecipherable at a fold. The article, which included a portrait of 'Mr Goddard and Tom', said:
TOM'S VOICE TO RETIRE
City Septuagenarian Entertainer
'Where is Tom? Oh, he's in that trunk there with his legs round his neck. I shall have to take him out to-morrow and have a look at him'
Mr Goddard looked affectionately at the .... tomb.
'Yes,' he went on, 'Tom's been a good pal to me.'
In case you should assume that this is the opening of a crime story I should explain, writes a Leicester Evening Mail representative, that Tom is the dummy used for many years by Mr John Goddard, the well-known Leicester ventriloquist and entertainer, who, at the age of 72, is retiring from the business of making folk laugh.
HIS FIRST VENTURE
He sat by the fire at his home in College-Avenue to-day, and told me that he was still anxious to follow his delightful profession, but he had found that the rigours of winter proved to (sic) much for him. 'I can't give the game up altogether just yet' he said. 'In fact, I don't want to, so I am going to content myself with what I can do for charity.'
Looking down the years Mr Goddard told me of his first venture as an entertainer when, at the age of nine he sang at a church concert at Burnham, Bucks.
'Somehow, I always seemed to find myself among amateur entertainers,' he continued. 'I left Burnham for Basingstoke when I was about 21, and eventually came to Leicester 47 years ago - when I was 25. I was in the engineering trade then, and worked for 17 years as foundry foreman at a works in New Bridge-street owned by Death and Ellwood.
'I did some entertaining then but I found it made too many demands on my time and business suffered so I had to give it up.'
When Mr Goddard left the foundry he took over a tobacconist's business in Aylestone-road and attempted to devote himself more to fun-making.
'Once again' he confessed, 'I found that entertaining was not a part-time job if I were to do it thoroughly, so I gave up my business - and I was then about 46'
I questioned Mr Goddard as to his experiences on various occasions when he has appeared before Royalty, and drew the comment, 'I feel sure that I was given the honour because my stuff was always clean humour.
'I first went down to Sandringham to perform at a concert in celebration of Princess Mary's wedding. Apparently they were rather pleased with me, for soon afterwards I was invited there to give a show before Queen Alexandra,' he added.
'It was arranged that I should give my show in the ballroom at Sandringham, but the place had not been used for so long that the servants were some time before they could find the electric light switches.
'On that occasion Queen Alexandra, Princess Victoria, the Hon Charlotte....
Resources
Researchers
Goddard researchers, let me know if you would like
your contact details here.
Places
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Goddard, Maryland, USA, population 6,304
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Goddard, Kansas, USA, population 4,058
Contact me if you know of any further Goddard
Resources or Places.
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