C. W. Somerset

Charles W. Somerset was hailed as Britain's oldest actor at his death on 4 February 1929. Born in Brighton as Charles Walter Mason in 1851, he made his first stage appearance in 1876 touring with 'Caste'. The first play he wrote was 'Foul Weather' which was debuted at the Royalty Theatre Glasgow on 30 May 1881. Later that year he made his first appearance in London at the Olympic Theatre. C. W. Somerset married twice, in 1887 to Fanny Stannard and later in 1901 to Agnes Mary Russell. He had one daughter Geraldine Somerset who would become an actress making her debut aged 11 in 1895. Somerset wrote 'The Little Grey Home In The West' in the early months of the war and it debuted on 23 November 1914 at the Devonshire Park Eastbourne with Somerset playing the part of Solomon Owles. He continued working after the war with his last appearance in 1928 in the Edgar Wallace play 'The Flying Squad' at the Lyceum.