Lena HALSTEAD [10118]

  General Notes:

Lena was an attractive and vivacious outgoing character who took up dancing in the theatre. She was working in the Windmill Theatre in Blackpool when she had a relationship with the Manager, Sid Brandon. Sid was already married with children and much older than Lena. Lena became pregnant to Sid Brandon. Sidney Josolyne, an upcoming magician and illusionist married Lena a month prior to the birth of her child. Sidney Josolyne had already had a child named Lionel with a married woman. Lionel's mother's name was Ouida. Ouida had TB and was in a sanitorium.

Ouida died within an year of Lena and Sid's marriage and Lena took charge of the 2.5 year old Lionel, son of Sidney Josolyne and Ouida, and her own baby Dora Desiree, who was about 6 months old at the time. Sidney was developing a new clairvoyant act and Lena, billed as La Celeste, would perform in the evenings. Lena's skills were applauded and they toured the country performing their popular act.

Sidney had grown up in a strict Victorian household where children were seen and not heard. He expected attention and demanded perfection at home and on stage.

When Sidney's son Lionel was 7, and Lena's child Dora was 6 years old, Lena fell pregnant again. Lionel was quite difficult and about this time he was taken out of school and sent by train to live with foster parents.

Beryl Francis was born during the Edinburgh Festival on March 11, 1926 at 3am. Lena was apparently still performing despite her advanced pregnancy. Beryl was a sensitive little girl who was frequently cared for by her older sister and by her father.

After Beryl was born she remembers playing close to the sands at Blackpool, and being sent to stay with her Auntie Dora, Lena's sister. Lena was not able to show the perfection in her performances that Sidney demanded and gradually began to seek solace in alcohol.

In 1931, Sidney had been working away and returned home to find Lena in bed with another man, Harry Birkby Dunster. Sidney made Lena pack her bags and sent her away with Dora. Beryl was only 5 years old at the time.

Sidney divorced Lena and married another young woman who became the new La Celeste.

Lena married Harry Dunster and they ran a boarding house. Lena stayed in contact with her daughter Dora, but did not see Beryl for many years.

Beryl became a nurse and she had a row with her father and left home and lived with her sister Dora. Harry Dunster had become ill and was a patient in hospital. Beryl went to relieve another nurse and Harry and Beryl had a conversation in which Harry apologised to Beryl for taking her mother away from her. Harry died soon after from cirrhosis of the liver.

Lena went on to marry Ernie Whisker who was a boarder in her boarding house. Dora Desiree convinced Beryl to attend the wedding, this broke the ice and Beryl and Lena were reconciled after many years. Beryl had finished her nursing training by this stage and went to stay with her mother and helped out at the boarding house.

When Beryl married Frank Bartlett, Lena and Ernie Whisker attended the wedding but Sidney Josoyne did not. ⁷⁹³³

Lena married Sidney Edgar JOSOLYNE [10119] [MRIN: 3325] in 1919 in Fylde, Lancashire, England.⁷⁹²⁶ The marriage ended in divorce in 1931. (Sidney Edgar JOSOLYNE [10119] was born in 1892 in , , England ⁷⁹³⁴ and died Mar Q 1965 in , , England ⁷⁹³⁵.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

1. Divorce, 1931.

Lena next married Harry Birkby DUNSTER [10121] [MRIN: 3326] in 1931 in Bolton, Lancashire, England.⁷⁹²⁷ (Harry Birkby DUNSTER [10121] was born in 1901 in Bolton, Lancashire, England and died in 1946 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England ⁷⁹³⁶.)

Lena next married Ernest WHISKER [10122] [MRIN: 3327] in 1948 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.⁷⁹²⁸ (Ernest WHISKER [10122] was born in 1891 and died in 1969 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.)