Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1930 & 39

Louie Fiddler (1870 - 1930)


Madame Louie Fidler was a popular and well respected Soprano around north west England, and during the First World War supported many concerts for the war effort.


She was born the 4th quarter of 1870 in Salford and given the name Louisa Ann Fidler. Her parents were John Fidler (born 1842 in Macclesfield, Cheshire) who was a Brewery Labourer, and Alicia (nee Hall) Fidler (born 1842 in Dublin, Ireland). They were married on 15th February 1870 at St Mary the Virgin Church in Eccles. In 1871 the family lived at Cross Lane, Salford, where Louisa was only a few weeks old. In 1891, 20-year-old Louisa lived at Myrtle Street. Salford with her parents and her younger sister, Elizabeth (b.1872 in Salford), aged 19, who was a Cotton Weaver.


In 1895, Louisa married Richard Harry Higson in Salford by Registrar. Richard was born in 1869 in Salford, and was a Bank Manager. His father was Richard Higson Snr (b.1833 in Salford), who in 1881, was a Master Painter and Decorator employing 40 men and 6 boys. His mother was Ann (nee Smith) Higson (b.1837 in Salford). Richard Henry's brother James Higson became Mayor of Salford in 1916/17.


The 1901 census shows Louisa and Richard Henry lived at 35 Albert Street, Eccles. They had a son Richard Harry jnr (b.1897 in Eccles), who was 4-years-old. The 1911 census shows the family at 96, Eccles New Road, Salford. Richard is aged 42 and a Branch Bank Sub-Manager, Louisa is aged 40 and a Professional Vocalist, Richard Henry jnr is now aged 14 and another son Stanley (b.1907) is aged 4.


A brief glace at The Era newspaper shows that Louisa was performing as Soprano before she was married, under the name of Miss Louie Fidler, at an all-week engagement at the Tower, Blackpool. After she was married the Guardian newspaper reports her performances mainly in Manchester under the name Madame Louie Fidler. She performed on 6th December 1899 at the Athenaeum Hall for the Manchester Male Chorus Society, singing Schubert's "The Young Nun" and "Gretchen am Spinnrade." In September 1904 she sang at the Sunday Lifeboat Concerts at the Palace Theatre, Manchester. In November 1912 for the Halle Concert Society special choral evening where she performed the soprano role in the Bruckner Symphony number 9, followed by Bruckner's "Te Deum." In September 1913 she sang at the Halle Concert Society evening at the Free Trade Hall, and again in January 1914.


1917 was busy for Madame Louie with "The Creation" at the Albert Hall in January; the Committee for Music in War-time concert at the Houldsworth Hall in Deansgate, Manchester, in March; the Harvest Festival at the Albert Hall where she sang the oratorio from "Sampson;" Imperial War Service concert at the Houldsworth Hall in October and the Messiah at the Albert Hall at Christmas 1917 and 1918.


Louisa's mother Alicia Fidler, died in October 1928 aged 86 and was buried in grave A5 80 at Weaste Cemetery. Louisa died on 30th October 1930, aged 59 and was buried with her mother. Louisa's husband Richard Henry Higson died on 15th August 1949, aged 80, but was buried at grave A5 61 nearby.