Russell Gladstone Wallett

   Cause of his death was " .. he died at an early age of tuberculosis. Apparently he kept going almost to the end and had a couch to lie on in the wings between his acts.".²⁶

  General Notes:

Supplied by Julie Leyton from an unknown source - apparently dated c1902

"Mr Russell Wallett is a son of the late W.F Wallett ('the Queens Jester'), and was born on 1st January 1867. He is a nephew of Henry Farmer of Pianoforte and Violin Tutor fame, and a cousin of the late John Farmer of Harrow and Oxford, well known in theatrical circles. He was articled to the law, and admitted a solicitor in October 1890. At once he started practice on his own account in Nottingham, but the law did not occupy his sole attention, for in the capacity of an amateur entertainer he became known as the local Grossmith. The stage had a strong attraction for him, and, when, in July 1893, he received an offer from Mr Arthur Roberts to go on tour as his understudy in Don Quixote, he responded very readily. An engagement with Captain Wombell's travelling pantomime followed, starting at Blackburn and going through all the large manufacturing towns. Next he played Cuckoo in The Grip of Iron, General Jenkinson, in Cupid and Co., and appeared as on of the ruffians in Captain Wombell's last pantomime, Babes in the Wood, at the Prince of Wales's Liverpool. Since then Mr Wallett has been almost entirely in musical pieces, playing with increasing success leading parts in Don Juan, The Shop Girl, My Girl, the Circus Girl, A Gaiety Girl, The Little Duchess, Madame Favart, Olivette, Pepita, The Old Guard, - all under the Morell and Mouillot management. Other appearances have been in the original production of Mr J. T. Tanner's Pot Pourri in which he played ten parts, and in Mr Tanner's play The Transit of Venus. Mr Russell Wallett has made a big reputation for himself in pantomime. He makes an exceptionally clever dame, and his female impersonations are very realistic. In addition to the Captain Wombwell pantomimes already mentioned, he has appeared in the following annuals:- EXETER 1895/6 and 1896/7; DUBLIN 1897/8 and 1899/00; LEEDS 1898/9 and 1900/1901. This year he has scored heavily as Belinda in Mr Mouillot's record pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, which, after a month's enormous business, at the Grand Opera House, Belfast, has been transferred to the Royal, Dublin, where he is now playing. For next Christmas he has been engaged as dame for one of the biggest productions that will be seen in the English Provinces. During last year Mr Wallett was engaged by Mr George Edwardes for the role of Hooker Pasha in the Messenger Boy, in which he has scored a big success. He was under contract with Mr Edwardes for the spring, but that gentleman has kindly released him to go with Mr Mouillot's reportoire company to South Africa. Mr Wallett, before going on the stage, was a prominent footballer and cyclist. He played for both Notts County and Notts Forest, and on the track won so many 'pots' that he declares he has no need to buy wedding presents for his friends. He is now addicted to golf and ping-pong. An expert banjoist, he possesses a banjo which was presented to him by William Nice, the well known maker, in 1887, with the inscription: - Presented to Russell Wallett, amateur champion banjoist."

  Death Notes:

He and his wife were then boarding at 56 Green Lane, Derby.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: solicitor (employer), at the time of the census in April 1891. ²⁷ He was then a visitor in the household of Sarah Hallam (a widow and farmer) at Main Street, Sutton Bonnington, Notts,

• Occupation: actor, at the time of the census in March 1901. ²⁸ He and his wife were then boarding at 56 Green Lane, Derby in the hosehold of Ann and Amy Wright.

Russell married Sarah Edith Helen Mansbridge Q3 1894 in Wandsworth Registration District.¹⁹ (Sarah Edith Helen Mansbridge died in 1938 in Fulham.)