Florence Bruce -Mezzo Soprano

[Spidermonkey]

That is the last reference I can find of Florence Bruce AND soprano in the newspaper archive.  I'll see if there are any leads to grab from elsewhere.

[Girl Guide]

There is a possible Florence birth here:

BRUCE, FLORENCE  WAIND     WAIND 
GRO Reference: 1876  M Quarter in YORK  Volume 09D  Page 47

In 1901 she is living here 10, Priory Street, York, Yorkshire & Yorkshire.  Her occupation is given as Assistant School Mistress, so may be did singing on the side?

Registration district   York
Archive reference   RG13
Piece number   4440
Folio   32
Page   14

I haven't found her in 1911 yet nor any possible marriage.

[Girl Guide]

Found her in 1911 with a completely mangled second christian name.  Living at 27 Havelock Road Hastings, Hastings, Sussex with her sister and mother.  Mother now a widow.

Occupation is teacher so could still be doing singing on the side 

[Girl Guide]

This could well be her marriage:-

Marriages Sep 1915   

Bruce    Florence W    Harman    Hastings    2b   53   
Harman    Frederick G    Bruce    Hastings    2b   53

It is in Hastings where she is living in 1911.

This is all speculation of course, she may not be the mezzo-soprano one at all.

[Spidermonkey]

That's a possibility, GG.

In January 1898, Miss Florence Bruce is still performing in Aladdin, but this time in Ashton Under Lyne.

Found a mention of Miss Bruce in 1913 (see attached clipping).  Lillian Oates is mentioned again - they seem to have been linked for some years, so I wonder if they lodge together?

Possibly same Lillian Oates as found here https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/50fd682c1c3d4ad0a1e9d311b69e0856

[Girl Guide]

Florence is a widow in 1939, retired school mistress.  Couldn't see any children from that marriage.

[Girl Guide]

Just found a death for her:-


Deaths Sep 1973 
HARMAN    FLORENCE WAIND    19JA1876    HASTINGS    5H   1112

[Girl Guide]

Seems her husband died in 1926 so the marriage didn't last long.  He may have been in the first world war and suffered badly in it.

[Robert Fletcher]

I must thank you all for doing so well. The performance in Yorkshire where it actually lists Florence Bruce -Mezzo-Soprano looks very promising. The record label the "Bel Canto" record label was short-lived. From my understanding, Florence does not appear on any other recordings.