Harry Wilding was a puppeteer who was popular during the Victorian era with his ‘Champion Marionette Theatre’.
Originally born in Suffolk in 1857, during the 1870s the family moved to Cannock Chase. The Champion Marionette Theatre toured the world, and could seat up to 700 people, making it one of the largest touring shows. Harry performed to royalty, with an extensive repertoire, supported by a small pipe organ, lighting and heating.
World War 1 meant that the show could not continue, as Harry’s own sons were sent to fight and could not perform. Once the war was over only his son, Bert, continued the family tradition, setting up the ‘Crown Marionettes’. Unfortunately, this ran for a limited time and the family ended up working down the pits.
On his retirement, Harry lived in his showman’s wagons in Chadsmoor continuing to make his own puppets until his death in 1941, aged 84.
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