The Goodliffe Family of Lambley Lodge, RutlandLeslie George RICHMOND (1892-1973)
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Leslie George RICHMOND was born on 5 November 1892 in Melbourne, Australia, the first child of George Goodliff RICHMOND and Ellen EDWARDS. Despite his father being a carpenter and mangle-maker, Leslie went into music and excelled as a pianist, organist and composer. He joined up with Hugh Cecil STEYNE and then Hugh & Edith HUXHAM to form "The Serenaders" a talented song-dance-comedy group that toured Australia in the 1920s. One of his early songs was copyrighted and this confirms we have the correct Les RICHMOND, the address being 45 Dinsdale St, Albert Park, his mother's address at the time of her death in 1912.
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Some of his music is out of copyright and can be viewed online. This one was written by Les and his wife Leena DEANE in 1922:
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Les RICHMOND married Selena DEAN in Melbourne in 1918 and they both toured with Hugh Huxham's Serenaders through until 1926. Selena was referred to in the papers as "Leena DEANE" a singer and dancer. Les was well known as an orchestra leader, pianist, composer and music director.
 Leslie RICHMOND |
 Selena DEAN |
Les was well known as an orchestra leader, pianist, composer and music director. After ending with the Serenaders, Les moved to Brisbane. The story of his appointment to organist at the Regent Theatre is thus:
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"As was the case in the other Australian theatres in which Wurlitzer organs were installed, American organists were initially appointed as ‘resident organist’. Their place was eventually taken at the Regent, however, by Melbourne-born Les Richmond, who played there over a period of more than 30 years. Richmond had come to Brisbane initially for the opening season at the Regent as pianist and arranger for the orchestra. In 1930 he studied with the visiting American organist, Eddie Ford, and graduated to the position of ‘relief organist’ before being offered the job of resident organist. Playing first for silent movies, and later at the ‘talkies’, Richmond played frequently for broadcasts from the Regent on ABC radio. He continued playing there until the regular use of the organ ceased around 1962. Richmond died in 1973 at the age of 79." Concerning the installation of the new Wurlitzer organ at The Regent, Brisbane: "Leslie Richmond, who travelled up from Melbourne to play piano in the orchestra on opening night, was appointed house organist in 1932. Les Richmond had played for many a silent feature in Melbourne's suburban and city theatres in the early 1920s. Les also toured India and the United States." |
There is a recording of Les RICHMOND playing the Wurlitzer organ at the Brisbane Theatre here. If you cannot find the recording, you can download it and play it from here.
After settling in Brisbane, Les and Selena had one child - Lesley Lora Margot RICHMOND, born 2 April 1928.
Les was in demand for his music. In 1954 he broadcast the music he played for the Duke of York in 1927.
 Brisbane Telegraph 9 March 1954.. |
Selena DEAN/RICHMOND died in Brisbane on 25 November 1944, aged only 48 years.
 Funeral notice for Selena Marion RICHMOND. |
Leslie George RICHMOND died in Brisbane on 22 December 1973.
Lesley Lorna Margot RICHMOND
Lesley was born in Melbourne on 2 April 1928. She followed her parents into music but became a script writer for the local radio station. She married Robert Ward GUSTAVSON at the local church of St Michael and All Angels, new Farm, Brisbane on 26 November 1949.
 
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Lesley lived at 33 Charles and Cross St, New Farm, Brisbane before her marriage and she remained there afterwards. Lesley and Robert had two children, Lissa and Toni, but it appears that the marriage did not last. Lesley and Robert were still at that address in 1954. By 1958 they had moved to 2 Corsica St, Moorooka, Brisbane but by 1963 she was living there alone. In 1963 Robert was living at 138 Pateena St, Statford with his new wife Jill.
Lesley RICHMOND died in Brisbane on 17 November 2009. She is remembered at Holland Park West, Brisbane, Area 7 Bed 6.
 View of Holland Park Cemetery. |
 Plaque for Lesley RICHMOND. |
Return to Thomas RICHMOND page
Last updated: 07/11/2020