Florence Collingbourne

Florence Eliza Collingbourne (January 1880 – 8 July 1946) was a British actress, singer and stage beauty known for her appearances in Edwardian musical comedies.^[1][2] One of George Edwardes' Gaiety Girls,^[3] she took over the title role in San Toy^[4] and originated the role of Nancy Staunton in The Toreador.^[5]

Florence Collingbourne in the title role in San Toy (1901)

Life and career

Collingbourne was born in Camberwell in London in 1880,^[6] the daughter of Maria Eleanor née Witham (1858–1888) and Henry Ashdown Collingbourne (1859-), a printer's labourer.^[7][8] Her mother died when she was 8 years old, following which she was raised by her aunt and uncle.^[9] She was living alone in Camberwell in 1901.^[10]

Her stage appearances include a series of Edwardian musical comedies produced by George Edwardes, such as A Greek Slave at Daly's Theatre (1898)^[11] and Gladys Stourton in A Gaiety Girl at the Gaiety Theatre (1899).^[3] She originated the small role of Yung Shi (and later took over the title role) in San Toy at Daly's (1899–1900),^[4] Girl in The Wicked Uncle at the Gaiety (1900)^[12] and Nancy Staunton in The Toreador at the Gaiety (1901–1902).^[13][5]

She left the production to marry Laurence Margetson (1874–1928), a hosiery manufacturer,^[14] with whom she had three children: William Laurence Margetson (1902–1992); Colleen Mary Margetson (1908–1995), and the novelist and writer Stella Margetson (1912–1992).^[15][16] After her marriage she retired from acting.^[9] In 1906 she briefly came out of retirement to appear in a farewell benefit for Emily Soldene at the Palace Theatre, London with Seymour Hicks and Rutland Barrington among others where she sang 'L'Ete' by Madame Chaminade.^[17] In her later years she lived at The Holdynge, Aldwick Avenue in Bognor Regis in Sussex.^[18]

Collingbourne died aged 66 at the District Hospital in Dorking in Surrey in 1946. In her will she left £27,306 7s 9d to her children.^[18]