Audrey Mosson

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Elsie Audrey Mosson[note 1] (3 September 1920, Preston – 1 September 2009, Hastings) was an English teen celebrity and later a professional dancer.[1][2] She was a Railway Queen of Great Britain, and twice turned on the Blackpool Illuminations.

Born
Elsie Audrey Mosson

3 September 1920
Preston, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Died1 September 2009 (aged 88)
Hastings, England, United Kingdom
OccupationsCelebrity, dancer, Railway Queen
Knownfor10th inductee of Railway Queen of Great Britain '
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Audrey Mosson
Born
Elsie Audrey Mosson

3 September 1920
Preston, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom
Died1 September 2009 (aged 88)
Hastings, England, United Kingdom
OccupationsCelebrity, dancer, Railway Queen
Known for10th inductee of Railway Queen of Great Britain '
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A close up image of the heritage blue plaque dedicated to Audrey Mosson at Lonsdale Avenue. The words read: Audrey Mosson (1920 -2009) Audrey Mosson was crowned 10th Railway Queen of Great Britain when she was 15 years old. Her family ran the Mayfair Hotel on Lonsdale Road. In August 1935 she was the first female and the second VIP to switch on the Blackpool Illuminations outside the Town Hall.In March 1936 Audrey embarked on a peace trip to the USSR where she met railway workers and Joseph Stalin.A dancer and actress, Audrey performed at numerous theatres and with the Blackpool Tower Children’s Ballet.Audrey repeated her ‘switch-on’ duties 50 years later alongside actress Joanna Lumley. Donated by Audrey Mosson’s family & Susan Brownrigg
Blue Plaque dedicated to Audrey Mosson at Lonsdale Avenue, Blackpool

Biography

Railway Queen - Velvet Gown

Mosson was born in Preston, Lancashire, and made her stage debut with the Blackpool Tower Children's Ballet.[3]

She was crowned the 10th Railway Queen of Great Britain at the Railway Carnival and Pageant held at 12Belle Vue, Manchester in August 1935 when she was 15 years old.[1] Later in 1935, she turned on the Blackpool Illuminations, an annual lights festival in Blackpool.[4] 50 years later, she again turned on the Blackpool Illuminations alongside actress Joanna Lumley.[5]

In 1936, she travelled to the Soviet Union on a peace visit and met Joseph Stalin.[1]

Audrey and her two sisters all married on the same day at a triple wedding at St Peter's, Blackpool in 1940. It was also their parents' wedding anniversary.[6]

A blue plaque was unveiled celebrating the achievements of Audrey Mosson at her former family home, Lonsdale Road, on 20 May 2023.[7]

Popular culture

Mosson features in the children's books Gracie Fairshaw and the Mysterious Guest and Gracie Fairshaw and the Trouble at the Tower by author Susan Brownrigg.[8][9]

Notes

  1. [1]
    also, mistakenly, Audrey Mossom in some sources

References

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