Fact and Fiction......

No...Vesta was NOT born in London, so contrary to what some sources say, she was NOT a Cockney...! Worcester rightly claims her as one of its own, which she confirms in her autobigraphy and this is supported by a parish entry for her baptism at St. Peter's The Great.

Yes...Vesta did die in London and NOT in Monaco as some writers suggest...! The GRO death index shows conclusively that her death was reported in Westminster during the September quarter of 1952 under the reference 5C 297.

Some writers suggest that Vesta's male impersonations were symptomatic of a gender crisis in her life. Not so! History shows that during Vesta's life-time men disproportionately undertook everyday social roles in society.

So, as a woman performing these roles on stage (policemen, soldiers and toffs) she merely parodied the prevailing male power structure.

Of course, she didn't consciously challenge that.

But, in the process of a female parody of the male roles, she not only established herself as a successful woman in a man's world, but importantly signified the inequality of male dominance through her female presence, helping to lay a key foundation for a change in popular attitudes towards the emancipation of women in society.

© Steve Wheeldon 2000

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