Charles Penrose

Son of a master watchmaker and jeweller, Frank Penrose Cawse was born on 11 November 1873 in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. Shortly after the birth his parents had a change of mind and re-registered him as Charles Penrose Dunbar Cawse. He began his career as an apprentice to the jewellery trade, eventually rising to the position of jewellery shop manager. However, at the age of 18, he enjoyed such a success with his innovative laughing songs at local concert parties that he was invited to join a theatrical tour. This led to music hall and the West End, and he was particularly popular in Tonight's the Night (1915) at the Gaiety Theatre, London. Although he had married architect's daughter Harriet Lewcock in 1899, it was his second wife, songwriter Mabel Anderson, who proved to be his most important collaborator. Mabel, who was 14 years younger than Charles and 18 years younger than Harriet, gave birth to their son Peter Charles Penrose-Cawes in 1920. Two years later Charles, using the pseudonym "Charles Jolly," made the first recording of his extraordinary song The Laughing Policeman, the composition of which is officially credited to wife Mabel under the pseudonym "Billie Grey." It should be noted, however, that Charles devised the technique of the laughing song some years before Mabel was born. The Penroses wrote numerous other laughing songs (The Laughing Major, Curate, Steeplechaser, Typist, Lover, etc), but only Policeman is remembered today, having sold over a million records. Both Charles and Mabel applied for membership of the Performing Right Society in 1943 and registered the additional pseudonyms "Fred D. Arthurs," "Billie Penrose" and "Charles Eric Tann." Charles was one of the first comedians to star on BBC radio, and he was memorable as Sgt. Bob Evergreen in the wartime series The Pig and Whistle. He also became a character actor in a number of films. Sadly, Charles Penrose died of heart disease on 17 November 1952 at the Princess Beatrice Hospital, Kensington, age 79. Mabel Penrose died of lung cancer on 18 August 1972 at the Middlesex Hospital, St. Marylebone, age 84. In accordance with show business tradition, both Charles and Mabel had reduced their real ages for publicity purposes, and their obituary ages were announced as 76 and 70 respectively.