Women in Wolverhampton's History

Women in the Arts | 1 | 2 | 3 |

Emma Dorothea Barcroft, known as Aunty Dorothy, composer and broadcaster (1886-1958)

Emma Dorothea Barcroft - Aunty Dorothy, 1930 (DX-1/4)

Emma Dorothea Barcroft was the daughter of WH Barcroft, the former headmaster of St Luke's School, Blakenhall.

Dora, as she was known to her friends, was educated at a local private school, Oxford Lodge School, Pennfields. Following the completion of her education, she remained at the school as one of the Staff of Governesses. Following the school's closure she continued working in the field of education with private pupils, teaching pianoforte, voice projection, singing and theory.

Advertisement for Oxford Lodge School, 1887 (L91)

From 1920 until 1922 she travelled abroad, visiting Europe and Africa, staying for two years in Kenya.

In 1923 the BBC broadcast the Africa Suite - a piece of music composed by Dora - from the Birmingham Town Hall. Shortly afterwards she was offered an appointment on the staff of the BBC.

In January 1924 she joined the BBC in Birmingham where she became Organiser of Women's and Children's programmes for BBC Midlands. She was responsible for an hour and a half of radio entertainment six days a week.

Dora directed women's programmes on the BBC for three years, from 1924 until 1927.

Woman's Hour - actually a thirty-minute programme - was aimed at providing relaxation for tired housewives. Dora used to rush round the local department stores gathering as much information as she could about the latest trends in furnishing and general household information.

From 1924 until 1935 Dora worked on children's radio as "Aunty Dorothy". She also composed and directed the signature tune, "Arsinoe".

In 1935 Miss Barcroft resigned from the BBC and opened a music studio in Queen Street, Wolverhampton.

Extract from Wolverhampton Borough Directory 1957, page 3

At her studio she gave lessons in music and voice training, and also composed music.

Her compositions include:

Liebeslied (Love Song)

Songs of Elfin Town

O Fairest Rose

Yvonne

Liebeslied (Love Song): music by E. Dorothea Barcroft (DX-1/6)

Dora continued at her music studio until around 1957 when she moved the studio to her home in Paget Road. She died a year later, aged 72.

Express and Star, 27th June 1958

Whilst on the subject of music, Wolverhampton produced one of the finest opera singers of the twentieth century, Maggie Teyte. Learn more about Maggie by clicking on the next button.

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