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Thomas Limerick Vallance was born on December 1, 1876
at 19 Chapel Street, Hamilton, Scotland, the third child and oldest son of James Limerick Vallance, coal-miner, and Mary Kerr.
The Census of 1891 finds the Vallance family residing at No. 6 Deputy Row,
Allonton, and lists Tom's occupation as "coal-miner". He
was 14 years old.
In June 1890 Tom's older sister Annie married another young coal-miner by
the name of Harry Lauder. Harry and Tom worked together in the
Quarter mine near Hamilton where Tom's father was
now mine manager. In
a few year's time Harry would leave his coal-mining job and become one of the most famous and highest-paid entertainers
in the world, knighted by King George in 1919.
Tom became Harry Lauder's
business advisor and inseparable companion. They travelled the world together, with Tom also serving as Harry's stage manager. Harry speaks reverently
of Tom in the introduction to his 1928 autobiography, Roamin' In The Gloamin'
...
"If there is another such as Tom Vallance anywhere else
in the world the man who claims him as manager, secretary,
valet and interesting companion over a period of thirty-five years is indeed a lucky person! |
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Tom Vallance,
1918
Los Angeles,
California |
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Tom Vallance
at the wheel of Sir Harry's
Nagent-Hobson
automobile, about 1909 |
You, Tom,
have been a partner in Harry Lauder Limited (strictly limited!)
all these years! You have travelled to the ends of the earth
with me and have never once missed a train or a steamer or been
late for an "entrance".
You are as faithful and
loyal to me as your dear sister Nance was, and I can say no more
of that. Without you I would be like a fish out of water. And
you've had a lot to put up with, mind I'm tellin' you! When,
if ever, you throw your hand in, Tom, I'll just creep awa' to ma
bed and die!".
Elsewhere in the same book Harry says: "For Tom Vallance
I have had a very soft side from that day to this. I taught him his
job as a miner and he is now, as he has been for thirty years, my faithful
friend
and manager. Where I go Tom goes. I do nothing without consulting
him. He is almost as well know all over the world as I am!".
Tom Vallance married
Euphemia Naphier on October 26, 1894. They
had six children: Marion, Mary, Effie, Alex, Jim and Lauder. Tom
died on August 13, 1932 in Blackpool, England, age 55. |
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Harry Vallance
(age 14)
Hamilton Scotland,
1903 |
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Harry Vallance
with Harry Lauder's Phantom I
Rolls Royce
at Lauderdale, Dunoon, 1927 |
Henry
("Harry") Limerick Vallance was
born on June 9, 1889 at his parent's home at 1 Bannatyne Place, Bent Road,
Hamilton, Scotland, the tenth child and sixth son
born to James
Limerick Vallance and Mary Kerr.
By 1910 brother-in-law Harry Lauder's career was in full swing
and he often performed several shows the same night, in a variety
of locations. Harry Vallance became his chauffeur, driving the famous singer from music
hall to music hall.
On December 19, 1911 Harry Vallance married Bess Cullen. They had
three children: Nancy, Ruth and MacLennan (possibly more?).
Harry Vallance
died on October 25, 1955, age 66. |
