Whiteleaf & Cadsden Residents Association

Anne and Gerald Thursfied – Whiteleaf Lodge

In 1931 the property known previously as“Chinnor View” (now Whiteleaf View) was sold to Gerald and Anne Thursfield, who owned it until 1946. Gerald was a mechanical engineer in his own right.   His wife Anne was a major soprano singer.   As a widely read musician she was equally at home singing German lieder and French chansons. ⁽¹⁾

Anne Thursfield (born 28^th March, 1885 (New York) died 5^th June, 1945) at Cheyne Walk, Chelsea.   As Mezzo-Soprano she made a number of recordings with piano accompaniment by Gerald Moore, with HMV during her lifetime. ⁽²⁾

Ms. Thursfield sang soprano at many Proms concerts, notably; in 1919 (No. 03) 1928 (No. 40) 1929 (No. 34) and 1929 (No. 49) the last night of the Proms. ⁽³⁾   She appeared at the Wigmore hall in May 1919 and 1920 when her repertoire included a varied selection of classical Italian arias, old French and English songs and modern ones, among the French songs performed were Faure’s Clair de lune and Debussy’s Fantoches. ⁽⁴⁾

Sources:

⁽¹⁾ “Obituary”   Times (London, England) 21 June 1945. The Times Digital Archive.

⁽²⁾ His Masters Voice Records (advertisement extract) circa 1929

⁽³⁾ BBC.co.uk proms archive 1919

⁽⁴⁾ Press article (source unknown) 1915