Arthur Jefferson died at Barkston in January 1949. The funeral service took place in St Nicholas Church and he was buried at
Barkston Cemetery. The Laurel and Hardy appreciation society later raised money for a headstone on his grave.
Barkston Cemetery. The Laurel and Hardy appreciation society later raised money for a headstone on his grave.
In 1950, Olga and Bill left the Plough Inn to take over the Bull Inn, Bottesford, where Stan and Ollie visited them on several occasions. Laurel and Hardy also returned to Grantham during their tour of 1953 – 1954.
Laurel & Hardy at St Peter’s Hill, Grantham c1953
Laurel & Hardy and Barkston
Stan Laurel was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson. His younger sister, Beatrice Olga Jefferson, (known as Olga), who was an actress, moved to the Grantham area in the 1920s.
Stan visited Britain in 1927 and 1932. In 1927 he stayed at the George Hotel, Grantham when he went to see Olga on stage at the Grantham Theatre Royal. At that time, Laurel & Hardy were time two of the biggest stars in Hollywood, certainly the biggest names in comedy, and Stan was mobbed in the streets by well-wishers and autograph hunters.
Whilst working at the Theatre Royal, Olga met local musician William Henry (Bill) Healey. He was born in 1896, the son of William H Healey, musician and music teacher, of 12 Welham Street, Grantham. Olga and Bill married in Grantham in 1937 and became licencees of The Plough Inn in West Street, Barkston (now a private house). In the latter years of World War 2 many of their customers were American airmen and soldiers from around Barkston Heath airfield.
In 1940 Arthur Jefferson (known as AJ), Stan and Olga's father, retired from the theatre and went to live with Olga and Bill Healey at the Plough. In the winter of 1946-47 Stan & Ollie came to Britain on the first of their theatrical tours, but Olga, Bill and AJ missed their arrival as they were snowed in at Barkston. However, in March 1947 Stan and Ollie travelled from London to Grantham (where they had lunch at the Red Lion) and then to Barkston.
The Plough today