Rita Webb's beloved brother Henry Richard Webb was born on Sunday 4th February 1906 at 12 William Street Leytonstone at that time the family consisted of his Mother Rose, Father Henry Augustus (known as Gus) and older sister Olive (Rita) as well as his elder twin half brothers Leslie and Joseph Durlacher from his Mother's previous marriage to a man named Samuel Durlacher.
Henry was too young to remember his mother who died of cancer five months after his second birthday on Friday 26th June 1908 when the family were living at 8 Hurbutt Cottages, Newington Butts (not far from Elephant and castle) after his mother's death the twins were sent to live with their grandmother Juila Kyezor, while Rita and Henry stayed with their father (the pair would never see their twin brothers again)
Henry did not get on well with his father Gus. Gus it was believed was an alcoholic, and Henry had very bad memories of being carted along to the pub with him and then made to sit outside until his father was ready to go home, often some hours later. Gus was always short of money so he would sell lantern wicks in the pubs. He took Henry with him and if he failed to make a sale, Henry was sent in, in the hope that people would buy from a child what they would not buy from an adult.
Henry & friend 1939
When Henry was five years old His father married his new wife Gertrude Bolingbroke on Saturday September 9th 1911 and he and his sister Rita did not get on with their step mother and were treated cruelly. Henry, whilst still very young, eventually moved in with his grandma Rosa Webb whom he stayed with until her death in 1924. (Henry is listed with Rosa on the census taken on Sunday 2nd April 1911 at 15 Buckley Road, Brondesbury Kilburn ) interestingly so is his Uncle (Gus's brother) Richard Lewis Webb and a 27 year old boarder named Kate Bolingbroke who was none other than Gus's future wife's sister, who in turn would marry his brother Richard Lewis Webb! is this how Gert and Gus met originally? note the absence of both Henry & Rita at their Father's second marriage in the photo to the right.
Gus died on Saturday 21st August 1926 what Henry did in the years before his death is a mystery, we do know that he lost his arm from blood poisoning when he was in his early twenties at that time he was a builder by trade but after being in hospital for almost 4 years he became an actor. Henry and his sister were extremely close, and it was he who first kindled her interest in the theatre.Henry was a founding member of Unity Theatre in London and acted in numerous plays there over a period of many years. Largely self-taught, his depth of knowledge and literary prowess made him a sought after companion by many prominent people. He counted amongst his close friends, the writer, Ted (later Lord) Willis, Sir Bernard Miles (the founder of London's Mermaid Theatre) the actor, Alfie Bass and BBC radio producer, Reggie Smith who was to give Henry much of his radio work.
Henry (holding dog) with Thommie's father & sister in 1926
In 1949 he married Joan Parker a table chef, they had met around 1945 after being introduced by Rita. Joan and friend rented a room from Henry at 127 Maida Vale and they were married 4 years later on 3rd December 1949 at Essex registry Office, he was 43 and Joan was 23.They had three children Louis Josephine born in 1951, Richard Henry Born in 1953 and Geraldine Margaret born in 1954.The family would eventually live at 265 Trinity Road, where they spent many happy years.
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Henry was a life-long socialist and he and Reggie Smith forged their friendship whilst in the Communist Party together in the 1930's. Henry's acting career was undoubtedly limited by the loss of his left arm during this period but he never gave up hope on his acting career. He worked on building sites and the like in between theatre work, and eventually got bit parts in films.
In 1944 while living at Lauderdale Mansions he began to write to the BBC radio department. An avid letter writer Henry wrote many letters to producers for work, eventually getting his first radio work five years later. His first TV work came in 1955 with a walk on part in the "Ted Ray Show".
1942 Middlesex Chronicle
Joan and Henry on their wedding day in 1949
Geraldine, Louise & Richard
Happy times! Henry with Jeffie,Rita & Joan Xmas 1977 and Henry & rita larking about in 1980
After his sister Rita died in 1981 Henry followed the rest of his family and emigrated to Tasmania, Australia. Where he lived until his death on 25th October 1990, he was 84 years old.Henry's family still live in Australia.
Joan lives in Tasmania, while her children live in Sydney. Louise and partner David have two children Joe and Vinnie . Brother Richard has no children. and Geraldine who married Steve Lewis in 1978 have daughters Hana & Sophie and son Greg .
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In 2002 the Webbs were to meet their long-lost family the Durlacher's (Now Dale) and Kyezor ancestors. The gathering took place in Sydney Australia! see the Foreword page for more details.
THEATRE
The Stage 1943
Henry in "Pygmalion" 1944
Buster-13/07/1943 as Mr Carter The Lodger (play by Ted Willis) Alfie Bass as "Buster"
They Also Serve-Bernard Miles tour
Pygmalion-Doolittle-1944, toured, John Forbe Russell production
French Leave-1944 as cpl Jones & General Root
Ghost Train-1944 as Hodgkin (Station Master)
Outward Bound-1944 as Lingley
Bird in Hand-arts Council
Rep-Basingstoke, Greenwich and Henley
This happy breed-Guest artist
Captain Brassbound Conversion-Company of four, Lyric Hammersmith, U/S Malcolm Russell (drinkwater) 1948/49
Eastbourne Rep-3 weeks prior to xmas 1949
Rep-May 1951
FILM
Henry in "Jazz Boat" 1960
British National film for Elstree 1944 as Factory Foreman
A Run for your Money-Ealing, bit part 1949, Charles Frend
Pool of London-1951, speaking part, Basil Dearden
The Brain Machine-1956, Dir; Ken Hughes, as Caretaker
Jazz Boat-1960, Dir; Ken Hughes, as barm
TELEVISION
Henry in "The Brain Machine" 1956
Scotland Yard reporter-Ted Kavanagh (filmed for TV)-1949
Scotland Yard:The Dark Stairway-Mar 1954, as old lag, Ken Hughes
Scotland Yard: Night Plane To Amsterdam- Jan 1955 ,Ken Hughes
The Ted Ray show-13.08.55, Stooge (cutting in and demanding ball back), BBC
Mrs Vickers in the fall-08.09.57, BBC
The Diary of Samuel Pepe: EP10-16.05.58, walk on, BBC
Alfies Penny Gaff-09.07.58, Take part, BBC
Crime Report-14.08.58, as Old Sam, BBCOutside-19.02.59 as Vagrant, BBC
Private Investigation: prt1-12.11.59, as caretaker (in film sequence), BBC
The Bergonzi Hand-27.01.63 (Rec) as Attendant at BMA, BBC
The Four Seasons Of Rosie Carr: 3rd Play-23.06.64, BBC
Three Clear Sundays-as Sam Gold, BBC
The Great Metropolis-24.01.66 (Rec), BBC
Cathy Come Home-19.05.66 (Rec), BBC
Colette-05.11.66 (Offer) as respectable gentleman, BBC
Trouble Shooters: EP4-12.01.67 (Rec) as gate man, BBC
RADIO
Jobs For All-April 1949
Wednesday Matinee: The Mysterious Joe Latimer -15.02.50 as Sam Oakes
Curtain Up: The strange Case Of Blondie white- 04.10.50 as Smith
Glass Houses: 4-02.12.50
Glass Houses: 5 -09.12.50
Britain At Home 05.03.51
Potances March Concert-08.05.51
It's Dogged As Does It-07.05.52, PR: A Campbell
Special Duty: Railway Breakdown Gang-02.10.52, R Smith
Special Duty: Rescue by lifeboat-16.10.52, R Smith
Special Duty: Pit Rescue Service -24.10.52,R Smith
The World My Parish (Portrait of John Wesley)-16.06.53, R Smith
Special Duty: no3 A Child is missing-25.06.53, R Smith
Elizabethan Theatre: no2 Faustus thou art damned-29.07.53, R Smith
Elizabethan Theatre: no7 Faction of Fools-07.08.53, R Smith
A Trip To Scotland-10.09.53, R Smith
Elizabethan Theatre no:9-14.09.53,R Smith
Special Duty: Fire At Sea-22.12.53, R Smith
Special Duty: Dragnet for a kid -14.01.54,R Smith
The Shoemakers Holiday-16.02.54, R Smith
Little Pig Robinson-31.03.54, R Smith
Special Duty: -17.06.54, R Smith
Danton's Death-11.07.54, R Smith
Saturday Matinee Double Bill: Keeping Up Appearances and Maiden Over- 21.01.55, R Smith
The Pity Of Love-07.04.55, R Smith
Mayhew Readings 1-11.07.55
Mayhew Readings 2-16.07.55,D Cleveland
The Pity Of Love -26.09.55, Grafton Restoration Theatre:
The provoked Wife- 05.04.56, R Smith
Saturday night Theatre: The devil is driving-13.10.56, R Smith
July the fourteenth-5/6.06.57(Rec), R Smith
She'll Make Trouble-12.12.58, R Smith
An Unbroken Chain-25.09.64, R Smith
The Tip Off-10.04.65, R Smith
The Life Of Kaggs-22.04.65 (Rec), R Smith
World Of the Young 4 -14.09.65, R Smith
Paradise for a Painter 5-14.09.65, R Smith
Return Visit-17.10.65, R Smith
Return Visit-17.10.65, R Smith
Henry V-25.10.65, R Smith
Birds Ain't worth the Trouble-02.02.66, R Smith
Afternoon Theatre: They Belong to Me-20.04.66, R Smith
Knock on the Moon-03.12.66, R Smith
The Tower of London: 4, 9,11-15/23/27.02 (Rec) R Smith
Deliberate Adventure-01.08.68, R Smith
The Cloister and the Hearth ep1-02.02.69,R Smith
The Stiff Line-11.04.70, R Smith
The Death Chop-13.06.70, R Smith
Mr Crockford-22.06.71, R SmithBarney-30.08.72, R Smith
Barney-30.08.72, R Smith
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Information & Photo copyright Geraldine Lewis, Louise Webb, Joan Webb, and Richard Webb
additional research Aaron Smith
These images are the exclusive ownership of the copyright holders and are strictly prohibited from being reproduced, copied or used by any individual anywhere else other than this website.
Henry Richard Webb
(1906-1990)
