Frances Watt, BEM (16 March 1922 – 14 October 2003)[1] and Anna May Watt, BEM (4 January 1924 – 19 February 2009)[2][3] were two Scottish sisters from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, who formed a singing duo. They came from a showbusiness family, and were child performers, touring Lanarkshire clubs from an early age. They initially joined their father David and sister Lily, a pianist, on stage as puppeteers. They remained in show-business for almost seven decades. Lily became their manager, and continued until her death in 1998.
Fran and Anna | |
|---|---|
 Frances and Anna Watt posing in a publicity photograph | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Genres | |
| Years active | c.1950-1996 |
| Labels | |
| Past members | |
Their father David was a ventriloquist and children's entertainer who went by the stage name Valentine Prince; he came from a family of musicians. He was married to Margaret Lacey (née Tobin).[3] Fran and Anna came from a family of five siblings who never married and who shared a house in Coatbridge. They performed as "The Prince Sisters" internationally and on cruise ships in the 1950s and 1960s. In the early 1970s, they changed their name to "Fran and Anna", and started to appear regularly on the Scottish Television programme Thingummyjig.[1][4] They also appeared with Terry Wogan on his show in the 1980s.[1] They were both awarded the British Empire Medal in 1989 for services to light entertainment.[1]
Fran and Anna were known for their tartan miniskirts, rouged cheeks and fishnet stockings. They were known for jabot-fronted tartan mini dresses, with matching tartan hats, each decorated with a large feather. Their style is often referred to as "tartan kitsch". They are reported to have worn their trademark style daily. Their friend and fellow performer Johnny Beattie said that he never saw them without full make-up and costume, even when not working, commenting, "I think they even went to bed like that".[1]
Fran and Anna performed many times at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow, giving their last performance there in 2002[1][4] alongside Jack Milroy and Johnny Beattie and with Gordon Cree at the piano.
Fran died of pneumonia in 2003. Terry Wogan praised Fran and Anna in his condolences on Fran's death. Anna died of natural causes at St Andrews Hospice in Airdrie six years later.[4] The sisters are buried alongside one another in Old Monkland Cemetery, Coatbridge.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Fran Watt". 22 October 2003.
- ^ "British Empire Medals". The Daily Telegraph. 17 June 1989. p. 13. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Births Scotland 4 January 1924 Anna May Watt: Cumberbatch Family History". cumberbatch.one-name.net. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ a b c "Anna Watt of 'Fran and Anna' dies". 19 February 2009 – via bbc.co.uk.