Kathleen Starling was well named, for those familiar birds have an extraordinary song, with smooth liquid sounds swooping through warbles and whistles. Still, when Kathleen took to the stage she felt the French version of Starling was more theatrical and so an ironmonger’s daughter from Aylsham became Kathleen Destournel, songbird of international acclaim.
Youngest of four girls, Kathleen was born on 30th July 1890. She had singing lessons locally and in France, appearing in several productions at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden including ‘La Boheme’ in 1919 where she sang with Australian opera sensation Dame Nellie Melba in front of the King and Queen. She so impressed Melba, she took her to Melbourne where Kathleen performed at at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Kathleen was famed for supporting the troops, giving a rousing performance at a benefit in a barn at a farm in Horning during World War One. In 1942 she led a concert party, departing London on the ‘Monarch of Bermuda’ during an air raid. She travelled to Cape Town, Cairo and Alexandria and throughout North Africa, facing bombings, blackouts and buses riddled with bullets.
She settled in Tuscon Arizona with her husband Bob, until his death when she flew back to the family nest in Aylsham. Kathleen’s father, William Fred Starling, was an ironmonger on Red Lion Street. Get a flavour of the town’s fascinating heritage by staying at The Ironmonger’s gorgeous boutique accommodation, set amid fabulous independent shops right on the market square.
