Pearl Hackney was born on the 28th of October 1916 in Burton-on-Trent, the daughter of a commercial traveller and a dressmaker. Raised in Liverpool, to which her family had moved after their business in Staffordshire failed, she spent her early childhood in impoverished circumstances. She never attended school, but was drawn to classical music and dance from an early age. Starting in show business as a dancer (helped by lessons from Anna Pavlova), and in pantomime, she became an expert tap dancer. After passing her advanced exams, she landed her first professional job performing pantomime in Hull. Hired for the chorus of London's Windmill Theatre at the age of fifteen Pearl worked her way up the ladder to becoming principal solo dancer four years later. Here she met comedic actor Eric Barker and following their marriage in 1936, she settled in Stalisfield, while touring with her husband. During WWII, Barker joined the Royal Navy, while Pearl served in the Royal Army as part of the Home Guard; the war years saw her tour (especially military hospitals), while the couple also took part in 'Merry-Go-Round', a military-themed radio comedy. The show was a particular favourite of Queen Mary, resulting in invitations to perform at Clarence House, Buckingham Palace, the London Palladium, and elsewhere. After the war, the show split into three parts, with both appearing in the Naval portion, 'Waterlogged Spa'.
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| 'All Creatures Great and Small' (1978) |
As well as appearing with her husband in a number of productions including 21 episodes of 'The Eric Barker Half Hour' (1951-53) and 'Look At It This Way' (1955), the couple were also to take part in 'Just Fancy', an early project of BBC television. Then her husband Eric suffered a stroke in 1967, which left him paralyzed down the left hand side of his body, pretty much forcing him to give up his acting career. However Pearl returned to the stage to support her family and a two year West End run in 'Not Now Darling' (1969) lead to an appearance in 'Showboat' (1971). Further comedy roles came in 'The Best Things In Life' (1969) and 'Oh, Father!' (1973), along with appearances in 'Coronation Street' (1973, 1978-90), 'All Creatures Great and Small' (1978), 'Funny Man' (1981) and in 'Are You Being Served' as Mrs. Grainger, wife of Mr. Ernest Grainger, in one episode called 'The Clock' (1974). She also appeared as Mrs Pike in various radio episodes of 'Dad's Army' .
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| as 'Mrs. Thatcher' in 'Cool It, Carol' |
Her film appearances included 'There’s a Girl in My Soup' (1970), 'Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers' (1977), 'Yanks (1979)', 'The Ploughman's Lunch' (1983), and four films for British director Pete Walker: 'Cool It Carol!' (1970), 'Four Dimensions of Greta' (1972), 'Tiffany Jones' (1973), and 'Schizo' (1976).
Her stage appearances included the principal role of Parthy in a revival of the musical 'Show Boat' at London's Adelphi Theatre in 1971.
Retiring in her 70s, Pearl lived at Hillside Cottage, Kent and was active in her local community, serving on the Stalisfield Parish Council. Her husband Eric died in 1990 and she died on the 18th of September 2009 aged 92 in Herne Bay, Kent and is buried with her husband in the churchyard of St. Mary's, Stalisfield Green.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/07/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-john.html
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