Nan Kenway

Nan Kenway was one half of the famous double act Kenway and Young who were one of the biggest names in British variety during the 1930s and 1940s. She and her husband Douglas Young were often headliners on the powerful Moss Empires variety circuit and they were favourites on radio and television programmes. Billed as 'Very Tasty - Very Sweet' they appeared in pantomimes and summer seasons all over Britain. In one of their famous variety sketches they appeared on stage dressed as two old 'codgers' (named Mr Yatton and Mrs Grice) reminiscing in a bar. In another spot Nan Kenway appeared immaculately dressed in an evening gown and played the piano. During WW2 they toured with ENSA throughout the Far East and India in the company of stars such as Duggie Byng, Leslie Henson and Helen Hill. By the end of the 1950s their genteel style of comedy had gone out of fashion and after the death of her husband, Nan opened a hairdresser's shop in the South of England.