Alyce Fraser, the West Indian soprano

In March 1933 Alyce Fraser, the notable West Indian soprano, travelled to Hull to perform at Holderness Road Methodist Church. While she was in the region, Fraser sang, conversed with locals and visited some of Hull’s most popular attractions. The talented musician’s brief time here was documented by a short article in the Hull Daily Mail.

On 4 March, Fraser sang for a large audience at the Methodist Church who enjoyed "a great musical treat" as she "thrilled, inspired and spiritually enthused listeners" with her amazing voice. [1] The following morning, she talked to local scholars about a range of topics. In the evening, Fraser sang with another singer, Amy Gibbon (whom like Fraser was also from the West Indies) at the Holderness Road religious establishment while Reverend T. Pearson Ellis preached sermons.

An image of Fraser as displayed in the Hull Daily Mail in 1933.

An original advert displayed in the Hull Daily Mail on Friday 3 March 1933.

On the morning of 6 March 1933, Fraser and Gibbon visited Wilberforce House, where they spent hours learning about the local abolitionist. Later they headed to Ferens Art Gallery to look at the collections on display. After this, the women prepared for their final performance in Hull which was attended by the Lord and Lady Mayoress. The church was filled to capacity with many people being turned away because they could not fit in the building. The Hull Daily Mail reported that "a notable feature was the attendance of about a dozen coloured men, some accompanied by their wives and families, and to rounds of applause Miss Fraser made her way to them and gave them a welcome." Gibbon also showed off her musical talents, and after the performances finished both singers and the Lady Mayoress received bouquets to rapturous applause.

Despite the impact that she seems to have made through her performances and her connection with the region's Black History, Alyce Fraser’s time in Hull would have been lost had it not been for three small newspaper articles which featured in the Hull Daily Mail. [2]

Footnotes

• [1] Hull Daily Mail, 7 March 1933, p.6
• [2] Hull Daily Mail, 3 March 1933, p.3 and p.4; and Hull Daily Mail, 7 March 1933, p.6