Family History ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT- “How the Other Half Lived” - Part 7 - Meet Jack Jesson

Jack was the subject of a newspaper article (written around 1977) that was amongst the Jesson paperwork I had in my possession. For the last 40 years, according to the article, Jack ran an old-fashioned sweet shop in Birmingham. Before that however he was well known for his musical talent which showed at an early age. Receiving musical training, he went on to compose hundreds of songs and hymns during his lifetime. He was the organist at the "Little Chapel" in Winson Green, Birmingham for most of his adult life and wrote the scripts and songs for most of their annual shows and pantomimes. Jack also co-wrote a string of music hall hits with other famous songwriters.

Whilst running the sweet shop, he had kept up his writing and piano playing in his spare time with a “piano and tape recorder in the back of the shop”. The article explains that he was hoping to sell the sweet shop and retire (at the age of 82). To continue making a bit of money he planned to step back into the music industry.

Jack (whose actual name was John Sidney) was born in 1897. He is in fact connected to our Jesson line (not as regal as the others), being the grandson of Joseph and Mary Ann Jesson. Joseph’s brother is my great-great grandfather.

I don’t know if Jack ever did have any success back in the music industry (I am guessing music styles had changed over the years) but good on him for trying. Jack never married. He lived his entire life in Birmingham, surviving to the ripe old age of 94.