Comedy legend Eric Morecambe kept his school reports bearing stinging comments from teachers unaware of the budding genius in their midst – and now they’re set for auction.
The much-loved entertainer received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II, the Freedom of the City of London, TV BAFTA awards galore and national-treasure status after forging the most successful comedy partnership in British entertainment history with Ernie Wise. Millions tuned into their annual Christmas show in the 1970s and 80s including royalty and fellow stars of stage and screen.
But if Eric’s school reports were anything to go by success was a distant dream. They were discovered by Hansons Auctioneers in Eric’s study in the Morecambe family home, Brachefield in Harpenden, Herts. Hansons is auctioning the entire contents of Brachefield on January 10-11 in a sale which has sparked so much interest the venue has been switched to a football stadium. And among more than 800 lots are Eric’s old school reports.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Many people hang on to their school reports so we shouldn’t be surprised Eric kept his. He never threw anything away. That’s one reason why The Eric Morecambe Collection is so remarkable. His study brimmed with fascinating papers and correspondence from the great and the good including royalty and comedy legends such as Ronnie Barker and Spike Milligan. We came across party invitations from former prime minister Harold Wilson and rock legend Mick Jagger – and Eric’s school reports. You can’t help but smile when you read them.
“He was rapped for poor and untidy written work, being fond of wasting time and not turning up for lessons. In fact his 1936 report from Lancaster Road Council School in Morecambe, Lancashire, was so bad it was returned with a stern message from his mum Sadie Bartholomew, ‘I am disgusted with this report and would be obliged if you would make him do more homework as I would see he did it here, S. Bartholomew’.” (Lot 684, £300-£400)
Eric attended Lancaster Road Junior School and Euston Road Senior School in Morecambe, the seaside town from which he took his showbiz name. However, by his own admission, he didn’t learn much.
His senior school report from 1940, when Eric was 14 and already treading the boards, read, ‘A trier, but very untidy in written work. Also fond of wasting time; Neatness could be better; Absent most of term. Appeared to be trying hard to improve’. (Lot 683 £400-£600)
But there was a glimmer of hope. General remarks read: ‘This boy was of cheerful disposition and willing to help in house matters. At times too noisy, and unfortunately not a credit to his house in educational standard. Keen worker at school concerts, having a flair for entertaining in the modern song and dance style’.
Charles said: “In his early teens Eric was already carving out a stage career. The sale includes his 1939 Licence for the Employment of Children in Entertainment (Lot 682, £400-£600). But teachers were oblivious to the genius in their midst. When he was only nine, Eric’s 1936 Lancaster Road Council School report placed him in 45th position out of 49 pupils. He had no marks for six subjects – recitation, grammar, geography, history, science and drawing. He gained 55 marks out of a possible 240. His top mark, 13 out of 20, was for reading followed by 10 out of 20 for mental arithmetic. The teacher’s remarks said, ‘He was absent most of the exams’.
“At the age of 12 his 1939 senior school report gave him 198 marks out of 350. He was in 10th position in a class of 38. Not bad considering his lack of interest. He had 18 marks out of 50 for maths, 47 out of 60 for English and 14 out of 20 for geography. The rankings are interesting. Not only were pupils placed in order of overall competence, they were ranked for each subject. Imagine the outrage today. Back then you knew if you were the school dunce and your parents were sent a report to prove it!
“In 1939 Eric was second best in class for geography, fifth for English and ninth for maths. The teacher’s remarks had a dash of positivity, ‘With a little more care, Eric could be one of the best scholars. If he concentrates on mathematics, drawing and general neatness he will have better results next term. I think he can do it’. (Lot 686, £200-£400)
“He certainly could do it, especially when it came to creating comedy magic, performing on stage and in front of a TV camera. The noisy lad who didn’t turn up for lessons brought sunshine to the world.
“Though school didn’t appeal he truly grafted to make it as an entertainer. One item in the auction is a partially-eaten lollipop, a circa 1940 stage prop (Lot 579, £500-£800). Eric was only 14 when he used it in a revue called Youth Takes a Bow at the Nottingham Empire. That was where he met Ernest Wiseman who was already in the show. They became good friends and started a double act. The rest is history.
“You can’t help but wonder what his old teachers thought as they watched Eric’s star rise. If anyone has even been hurt by criticism in their formative years, let this give them hope. School and Eric were no match made in Heaven but he followed his heart and became a national treasure.”
Auction: The Eric Morecambe Collection will be offered by Hansons Auctioneers on January 10-11, 2025 at Burton Albion FC, The Pirelli Stadium, Princess Way, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE13 0AR.
Viewing: Lots in The Eric Morecambe Collection can be viewed at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton, Staffs, on January 5, 2-6pm; January 6-7, 10am-4pm; January 8, 10am-8pm, and January 9, 10am-3pm. At 2pm on each viewing day, Eric Morecambe’s daughter Gail Stuart, 71, will give a talk about her father and host a question-and-answer session. Entry by printed catalogue only, available to purchase at the stadium for £25, one catalogue admits two.
Website: www.ericmorecambe.com
Auction enquiries/order catalogue: [email protected]
