Charles Albert Cornwell

C. A. Cornwell was and amateur writer and stage performer. Born Charles Albert Cornwell at Fore Street, Ipswich on 22 May 1879 he had by 1899 gravitated to London where he worked as a labourer at the Lawes Chemical works at Barking Creek. He married Edith Ellen Brooks in 1901 and the couple resided at 22 Creeksmouth and using this name opened the Creeksmouth amateur dramatic company in 1906. The company's first performance was "Our Secret Service" performed at the Creeksmouth Coffee Tavern on March 6 1906. In 1911 Cornwell acted as stage manager for a benefit concert held at Barking Public Baths which he wrote and produced. Another of his productions the musical comedy 'Penelope and the Fisher Girl' was also staged at the Barking Public Baths in 1915. 'Over the Lines' was passed for performance on March 28 and staged on 1 April 1918 at Barking Public Baths. After the war Cornwell formed a company with J. D. Kemp which operated from 37 Sunningdale Avenue, Barking and in March 1919 "Over the Lines" was performed at Barking Public Baths as was comedy revue "Where Women Reign". By 1939 he and Edith were living at 17 Creeksmouth. Edith died in 1941 and Cornwell remarried Catherine Sophia Blundell in 1950. He died on 11 September 1962.