1885-1912

Arthur Lucan dressed in his familiar Old Mother Riley costume

1885

Arthur Lucan, born Aurthur Towle on 16 September 1885 in the village of Sibsey in Lincolnshire, England.

1890

Arthur and his family move to Boston, Lincolnshire.

1891

The 1891 Census [RG12/2573/37] shows: 10 Wood Yard, Boston, St. Botoloph.

Tom TOWLE (head) age 36, Groom - born Waddingham.

Lucy TOWLE (wife) age 33 - born Sleaford.

Annie TOWLE (daughter) age 8 Scholar - born South Kelsey.

George TOWLE (son) age 7 Scholar - born South Kelsey.

Arthur TOWLE (son) age 5 - born Sibsey.

Kate TOWLE (daughter) age 3 - born Sibsey.

Tom TOWLE (son) age 1 - born Boston, Lincs.

[Thanks to Roy and Joy Rust who own the cottage where Arthur Lucan was born in Sibsey]

1896

Arthur's father, Thomas Towle dies on 4th March 1896, aged only thirty nine.

1897

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

Catherine "Kitty" McShane born in Dublin on 19 May 1897.

1899

Arthur Towle leaves school at the age of fourteen, with show business ambitions.

1901

The 1901 Census [RG13/3044/2] shows: 10 Wood Yard, Boston, St. Botoloph.

Lucy TOWLE (widow), age 40, Laundress - born Sleaford.

Annie TOWLE (daughter), age 18, Single, Employed in Factory, born South Kelsey.

George TOWLE (son), age 17, Single, Errand Boy, born South Kelsey.

Arthur TOWLE (son), age 16, Office Boy, born Sibsey.

Tom Towle, (son), age 11, Single, School, born Boston, Lincs.

Edwin Towle, (son), age 9, Single, School, born Boston, Lincs.

Lucy TOWLE (daughter), age 7, Single, School, born Boston, Lincs

John William Barton, Boarder, (Widower), age 37, Dock Labourer, born Boston, Lincs.
[Thanks to Roy and Joy Rust who own the cottage where Arthur Lucan was born in Sibsey]

1909

The Musical Cliftons, including the young Arthur Towle, tour Ireland.

1910

Arthur writes and has a starring role in a pantomime - Little Red Riding Hood - at The Queen's Theatre in Dublin. The title role is played by his future wife - Catherine "Kitty" McShane, then aged thirteen.

He adopts the stage name Arthur Lucan after seeing a milk float being pulled by a horse bearing the name - "LUCAN'S DAIRIES"

1912

Arthur returns to Enland and tours with "The White Coons" concert party. Also writing comedy sketches for the concerts.

Accepts a part in a new review show - "The Honeymoon" - opening at the Hippodrome, Huddersfield, on 25 November 1912.

CONTINUED

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