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Eleanor Chalmers obituary: Singer started her jazz career in 1940s Dundee

Eleanor Chalmers.
Eleanor Chalmers.

Singer Eleanor Chalmers, who forged her jazz career in post-war Dundee, has died aged 94.

She sang in the Pelican jazz band in the 1940s and 1950s before forming the Vince and Eleanor duo with her husband Vince Chalmers.

Eleanor’s childhood home, the boarding house above the Carpet Shop and Dundee and Newcastle Supply Company.

The pair had met at the Empress ballroom in Dundee before marrying in 1957.

In later life the couple would run V&E Chalmers Guitar Centre, first in King Street and later in Albert Street.

In 1969, Vince and Eleanor had their moment of national fame when they appeared on Opportunity Knocks.

Eleanor was a keen cyclist in her youth.

However, Russ Abbot and his comedy showband the Black Abbots ran out winners.

Eleanor was born in Dundee to George Ritchie, who worked in engineering, and his wife Annie, who ran a boarding house in Cowgate.

She was educated at Morgan Academy and from an early age developed a fondness for singing. She was also an accomplished cyclist and speed skater in her youth.

During the war when she was a teenager, Eleanor was known for singing in air-raid shelters to keep people’s spirits up.

Eleanor and Vince Chalmers take the stage.
Eleanor and Vince Chalmers take the stage.

Throughout her younger life, Eleanor helped out at the family boarding house and continued to do so when she began work at a Westport pawnshop owned by a Mr Chalmers.

Her evenings and weekends were spent singing in clubs, first as a soloist and then with the Pelican jazz band before the formation of Vince and Eleanor.

The couple, who had two children, Vinessa and Eddie, later played with the Astor Combo all over Scotland.

Vince and Eleanor Chalmers.
Vince and Eleanor Chalmers smiling as they play.

“When were were growing up, my father had a day job and in the evenings both would go entertaining in pubs, clubs, weddings or at old folk’s homes,” said Vinessa.

“They travelled all over Tayside, Fife and Aberdeenshire and did a lot of work at the caravan site at Dunkeld and Birnam.”

Reward

During the 1980s, while Vince and Eleanor had a residency at the Hong Kong restaurant in Seagate, they were approached to play at the Queen’s Hotel at a birthday celebration for Sir Reo Stakis.

Afterwards, the hospitality tycoon presented the couple of a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne and glasses.

Vince also taught guitar at Larg and Sons music store in Whitehall Street, Dundee.

Larg and Sons, Whitehall Street, Dundee.

In 1971 Eleanor and Vince opened their own shop and tuition studio on King Street.

During this time, Vince taught guitar in schools around Angus in the mornings while Eleanor took care of the shop,

In 1977 the business relocated to 9 Albert Street where the couple traded until 2020.

You can read the family’s announcement here.