THE SYDNEY MAIL

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

21 September 1932

(page 18)

THE LATE LEILA WADDELL.

MISS LEILA WADDELL.

The Australian violinist, who died last week.

On Tuesday, September 14, a vivacious and charming stage violinist and orchestral player, popular in Sydney over thirty years ago, passed away after a painful and protracted illness in the person of Leila Ida Nerissa Bathurst Waddell, a daughter of the late David Waddell and Mrs. Waddell, of Bathurst and Randwick. Miss Waddell made her first professional appearances at the concert recitals given by the City Organist (Mr. Arthur Mason), and in 1906 her services in the cause of charity and her high personal character were recognized by a concert in her honour. This led to her engagement by Mr. Henry Hayward with a concert party from Europe, known as "The Brescians," which toured Australia and New Zealand for long seasons. In 1908 the young player left Australia to try her fortune in England. Her principal experience there was as leader of the Gipsy Band on the stage in "A Waltz Dream" at Daly's Theatre, London. This gave her an impetus in a new direction, and in the character of the Ragged Gipsy she appeared with a group of girl violinists during a period of years at the Coliseum, Palladium, and other theatres, and ultimately toured France and Germany and other countries as far as Russia.