The name “Florence Desmond” may be familiar to those who
have attended the Florence Desmond Day Unit at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford but not so many people will remember her for her acting talent during the first
half of the twentieth century.
Born in London in 1905, Florence Desmond was performing on
stage as a dancer from the age of 10.
She later became known as a singer and comic actress and as an excellent
impersonator of famous actresses such as Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich and
Greta Garbo. In her obituary in the Independent in January 1993 she was described as, "Not only the best impersonator of her generation, but by far the best." She demonstrated a satirical talent without any cruelty to the people she mimicked.
In 1928 Florence performed in, "The Year of Grace," a revue written by Noel Coward and she accompanied the production to New York where she danced with him. She was to take New York by storm 18 years later at the "Blue Angel" nightclub with her witty and accurate impressions of Hollywood stars using minimal props. Miss Desmond participated in the Royal Variety performances in 1937 and 1951 and she was the leading lady in two films starring George Formby. Mr. Formby called her, "an inimitable comedienne." Florence also acted with Gracie Fields and frequently starred in pantomime as a principal boy.
In 1928 Florence performed in, "The Year of Grace," a revue written by Noel Coward and she accompanied the production to New York where she danced with him. She was to take New York by storm 18 years later at the "Blue Angel" nightclub with her witty and accurate impressions of Hollywood stars using minimal props. Miss Desmond participated in the Royal Variety performances in 1937 and 1951 and she was the leading lady in two films starring George Formby. Mr. Formby called her, "an inimitable comedienne." Florence also acted with Gracie Fields and frequently starred in pantomime as a principal boy.
In 1935 Florence married Tom Campbell Black, an aviator, but
she was heartbroken a year later when her husband died at Speke Airport in
Liverpool after his plane struck an RAF plane on the ground. Her second husband, Charles Hughesdon, was
also an aviator and in 1937 they set up home together at Dunsborough Park in
Ripley. During the Second World War, Florence toured army camps with ENSA entertaining the troops. Her peaceful post war life was upset by a daring robbery. Luckily Florence and her husband were away from home and the household staff disturbed the burglars, but not before they had stolen a mink coat and stole.
In 1963, Florence Desmond began fundraising for the purchase
of a Betatron electron therapy unit to be installed at St Luke’s Hospital in
Guildford. She stated that, “If Betatron
had been available, cancer might not have killed my beloved father.” The Betatron, made in Switzerland, the first
of its type in the UK, was used to treat primary malignant cancer. £200,000 was required, of which Miss Desmond personally contributed £9,000 . The
climax of the fundraising was a Royal Gala on the stage of the Odeon in
Guildford attended by Princess Alexandra and her husband Sir Angus Ogilvie,
with performances by Vera Lynn and Max Bygraves.
The Betatron was installed in 1967 and remained in service at
St Luke’s Hospital for 24 years. A ward at St Luke's was named Desmond Ward in recognition of her considerable achievement. In 1991 when the McMillan Day Hospital was transferred to
the Royal Surrey County Hospital it was decided to use her name again for the
new Florence Desmond Day Hospital and on October 16th that year
Florence visited so that she could see the excellent new facilities.
Florence Desmond performing with George Formby.
Florence Desmond performing with George Formby.
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