Oswald John Morris was born at 173 Water Street in Port Talbot On 18th July 1906,
His parents were Edward and Agnes Morris and he had two sisters May and Megan. Ossie’s
Father, known as Teddy was a big player with the Afan and District Operatic Society.
Ossie himself appeared in The Mikado in 1919 alongside his father. He was to follow
this up with key roles in The Vagabond King, The Desert Song and his favourite part,
as Blinkie Bill in The Belle Of New York. A ten-year-old Ossie excelled at bird whistles
and mimicry – his later catchphrase became “Hush! I must ‘ave ush!” Followed by an
ear-piercing whistle. His first job was again alongside his father, at The Burrows
Tin-plate works in Aberavon. At the age of nineteen he found himself performing at
local Liberal clubs in the area, and his talent was actually providing an income
almost as much as his day job. On the 9th December 1929 he married Lilian Maude
Williams, the daughter of a well-known bus proprietor from Cwmavon called David Rhys
Williams. They had two children, both boys, Ronald was born in 1930 followed by John
in 1935 and the family home became 20 Gladys Street, in Port Talbot. Around about
this time he teamed up with Lew Thomas and Evan John and would perform together as
The Versatile Three. They blended Comedy and Music and were a great success locally
and audiences of the time would be enchanted by Ossie’s Baritone voice and comedy,
alongside Lew Thomas and his musical saw and Evan John’s Harmonica playing (he was
billed as the Welsh Larry Adler). The Trio’s haunting intermezzo from Cavalleria
Rusticana was climaxed with Ossie Morris’s whistling impression of a nightingale
in full song. Ossie would also embark on solo performances at local theatres, indeed
in a cinema in Gorseinon he appeared on the bill as a Bird Mimic. In 1937 the trio
joined a very fine concert party called the Coronation Revellers – named because
of the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. After the outbreak of World
War II the party renamed themselves the Western Revellers, increased 
in size and
became the most sought after entertainment party in Wales, bringing a little ray
of sunshine into the lives of many people threatened by the hazards and deprivation
of War. After the War Ossie’s big break came at the age of 43 when he appeared on
Hughie Green’s Opportunity Knocks programme and his exposure to a wider audience
attracted the attention of Bryan Michie – who famously had given Morecambe and Wise
their break at The Empire Theatre, Swansea in 1940. Brian invited Ossie to be a guest
on his show at The New Theatre in Cardiff. He was a great success, the one time £8
a week Steelworker had arrived. Between shows however Ossie was a Betterware salesman
selling door to door to the people of Port Talbot, trying to provide for his young
family. At the end of 1949 Mair Jones the producer of Welsh Rarebit approached Ossie
and invited him onto the show. He slotted in beautifully and after just nine appearances
was appointed resident Comedian on the show. He was now a full time entertainer and
his Betterware case was closed for good. Mai Jones was such an admirer that she rated
his chances of national recognition greater than that of Harry Secombe. He was soon
sharing top billing all over the country with likes of Dorothy Squires and Wilson,
Keppel and Betty. In 1950 when “Red Riding Hood” was put on as the Pantomime at Swansea
Grand Theatre, Ossie was invited to play alongside Maudie Edwards, Rita Page and
Stan Stennett. His brand of humour was perfect for Pantomime and he went on to play
a further 3 Pantomimes at Swansea Grand and one at Swansea Empire in 1956/57, in
fact he performed at the last ever show at Swansea Empire, the pantomime "Jack and
the Beanstalk" before it was closed in February of 1957. He also performed his own
show “I Must Have Hush” at Swansea Grand in 1951. Ossie was truly a son of Port Talbot
and loved to be home in Gladys Street, and for 21 straight years he would perform
for the patients of Port Talbot General Hospital. He was at the top of his profession
when he topped the bill in 1954 at The Shakespeare Theatre Of Varieties in Liverpool
and was in demand constantly. A naturally funny man off stage, there is a story of
w
hen he went to visit his newborn Grandson outside the scheduled visiting hours at
a Watford Maternity hospital. Having charmed a rather strict Matron into allowing
him to view the baby, he added that there was no need for the nurse to show him the
baby as he would just hold a five-pound note up into the air, the child who raised
its hand would be his Grandson.In early 1956 he travelled to the Middle East to entertain
the forces with The Crazy Capers Combined Services Entertainment Show and upon his
return received a congratulatory letter from Major General C.E.A. Firth, The Director
of personal Services at The Ware Office in London. Outlining Ossie’s special appeal.
At the wedding of his eldest son Ronald, Ossie was called upon to sing. He gave a
beautiful rendition of the popular song “If I loved You” he went down a storm and
one of the guests piped up that he should have sung in the church as well. Ossie
replied “I would have but they wouldn’t pay me enough”In 1964 after a performance
at a South Wales club Ossie had a Heart Attack, he was just 58. He suffered further
attacks, which weakened the constitution of this strong man. Throughout his illness
he kept a diary that graphically illustrated his torment and the depression that
his illness caused. Many of his showbiz colleagues would rally round to his home
to offer support. Sadly just a few years later in March 1968 he suffered a Brain
Haemorrhage and was admitted to Port Talbot General Hospital, the scene of many previous
performances. This visit was however his curtain call as just two weeks later on
April 7th 1968 and aged just 61 Ossie Morris Passed Away, surrounded by the family
he loved and in his beloved hometown of Port Talbot.
