John Eric Bartholomew was born at 42 Buxton Road, Morecambe, on May 14 1925.
His parents were George and Sadie Bartholomew. He was an only child.
Eric's father was a labourer at the Morecambe Corporation earning thirty-eight
shillings a week.
His mother, Sadie, was determined to see her only child make a success of his life,
and took work as a waitress at the Cafe Royal, to raise funds for his dancing lessons.
Eric did not enjoy these lessons at the time, although they were to come in handy during
his later life.
Eric went to school at the Lancaster Road Juniors and after that, the Euston Road
Seniors. He by his own words was, 'hopeless in class, just terrible.'
During this period, Eric Bartholomew (the John having been dropped more or less -
from birth) won numerous talent contests. One, a concert party at Morecambe called
The Nigger Minstrels he won three years running. Until he was eventually banned from
taking part for being just too good for the others.
There were other competitions in cinemas and ballrooms however.
Many being won by Eric.
Then came the Hoylake contest, and its anti-climax of a 'prize' - being auditioned by
Jack Hylton three months later.
Months after the audition, Hylton invited Eric to join a revue called "Youth Takes A Bow" at the Nottingham Empire as one of Bryan Michie's discoveries. His salary would be £5-a-week plus travelling expenses. Here he would meet Ernie Wise. During World War II Eric was a Bevin Boy, conscripted to work in a coal mine. But greater things awaited him.
