1919 - 1924

Gwen gave birth to her third child, Eric Watson Hoole, on 2nd June 1919, and a year later, to the very day, there was a Grand Variety Concert in the Town Hall, Alice, in aid of the Alice Golf Club.  The event was organised by Gwen herself, and she appeared in three numbers herself: two duets with Miss Rieman, The Valley of Laughter and the innocently named Two Gay Owls, and lastly a solo item, her old calling card (by request, as the programme asserts),  The Rosary.  Many who grew up in Africa will be charmed by the advertisement emblazoned across the top and bottom of the programme: "Drink Castle Beer" at the top, "Ale and Stout" at the bottom.  There were three announcements in the local press for the Grand Variety Concert, one an advertisement and two further publicity reports.

In the Town Hall, Alice, on Monday, 21st March 1921, there were 1820 Settlers Memorial Entertainment Tableaux called British Settlers Landing.  This was followed by what in today's politically correct society would be a rather suspect title for a "comedetta", Backward Child.  Mrs. Hoole played the part of Mrs. Colony while Stella and Harold Hoole, then aged 3½ and 4½ years respectively, played the parts of Miss and Master Colony.  Presumably Eric, then aged 1½ years, could not be trusted to play the part of a carry-on Infant Colony!  Gwen sang two numbers during the Tableaux:  I Did Not Know and The Lonely Road.

Gwen remained a staunch royalist all her life, but The Royal Visit in the headline of the next article probably does not refer to a royal tour by any of the royal family at the time, as I can find no references to any such royal visits in 1921.  It more than likely refers to a visit to Alice by the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, Prince Arthur of Connaught and his wife, Princess Arthur of Connaught, who, until her marriage, had been Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife.  Prince Arthur had been appointed Governor-General in November 1920 and so a tour of the provinces would have been apt in April 1921.  Gwen would have been particularly proud of her mention in the report below: "Among those who contributed to the success of the reception we feel indebted to Mrs Hoole, whose beautiful singing was greatly appreciated - not only by their Royal Highnesses who personally expressed their appreciation to her - but also by all who were present."

On Thursday, 20th October 1921, there was a review of a performance of The Ancient Mariner, Coleridge set to music by Paterson, apparently.  Gwen "rendered three solos, her exceptionally fine Soprano voice filling the hall.  She sang with faultless technic, and with her usual confidence and power.  Few towns the size of Alice have a Mrs Hoole. ... This solo, in the sweetest of voices, was one of the outstanding features of the evening - it literally slid into the soul of all present."  The reviewer was way ahead of their time in the present-day widespread misuse of the word "literally"!

In May 1922 The Bioscope Syndicate presented two films, The Two Royal Children and Pathe's Gazette.  Gwen sang O Mother Mine.  We cannot be sure precisely when this event took place because the exact date is glued to the Common-Place Book.

A few months later on Friday, 1st September 1922, in the Town Hall at Fort Beaufort, there was a production called The Blackbirds,  which appears to have been a musical theatre review.  Mrs Hoole contributed one solo item, but the programme does not say what it was.  The Opening Chorus and the first item after Interval, Pierott Parade, were both performed by The Blackbirds, while The Company performed Seaside A.B.C., Trippers and the Finale, which was, as usual, followed by God Save the King.

Well over a year later and we come to Gwen's final performance recorded in The Common-Place Book, although we cannot be sure whether it was her last appearance on the concert platform ever.  Fittingly, the programme contained items covering both aspects of Gwen's career: musical and thespian.  She played the part of Mrs Aubrey-Harding, a disagreeable visitor, which she no doubt carried off with aplomb. And there is a touch of pathos in the title of her final song, Through the Shadows to Your Heart.

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