James Fawn

James Fawn, my great great great Grandfather, was a music hall singer and a low comedian often billed as, 'The Prince of the Red Nosed Comedians' who lampooned the leisured classes by appearing on stage drunk. With a red nose and bleary eyes, and holding a half-full bottle of champagne or expensive wine, he would dress in dishevelled but very fashionable clothing- top hat and tails.

He hiccuped as he sang, protesting that "… it must have been the lobster I've eaten as I've hardly drunk enough to drown a fly!".

He is most famous for his number 'If you want to know the time…ask a policeman', which was a satire of the well known fact that if arrested for drunkenness, your watch would probably 'vanish' during your time inside the police station.

His last appearance was at the South London Music Hall in 1922, less than a year before his death.