Sid Field

Sidney Arthur "Sid" Field (1 April 1904 – 3 February 1950) was an English comedy entertainer who was popular in the 1940s.

Early years

He was born in Ladywood, Birmingham, Warwickshire, son of Albert (a canemaker) and Bertha (a dressmaker). Field spent most of his childhood at 152 Osborn Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham. He had entertainment in his blood from an early age. As a child he charged his friends "admission" to his back garden impression shows. Also, he was busking and performing to the lines at his local cinema dressed as Charlie Chaplin (once being cautioned by police for his activities). Field was later praised by Chaplin himself, at whose parties Field was a regular invitee.

Field grew up in Birmingham, where he was educated at Conway Road, Stratford Road and Golden Hillock Road schools, and attended Sunday school at Emmanuel Church, Walford Road. His cousins, "the Workmans", performed in concerts at Moseley Road Swimming Baths in the city, where Field made his stage debut, singing "What A Life" at the age of nine.