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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Kirsty McKenzie & Sophie Law

Stan Laurel’s mum finally given makeshift headstone on Scots grave 100 years after death

The mum of comedian Stan Laurel has finally been memorialised with a makeshift headstone after her unmarked grave went unnoticed for more than 100 years.

Margaret Jefferson, who is best known for her world famous comic actor son, was laid to rest in Glasgow's Cathcart Cemetary.

But now a mystery fan has given paid tribute to the mum- who was a talented actress in her own right - with a makeshift grave marking, Glasgow Live reports.

A simple bouquet of flowers and white cross mark her grave, along with a plaque reading: "In memory of Margaret Jefferson. Mother of comic actor Stan Laurel."

A simple bouquet of flowers and white cross mark the grave of Stan Laurel's mum (Eddie Devine)

Margaret, who was known as Madge, moved to Glasgow in 1901 when her husband Arthur landed a job as manager of the Metropole Theatre.

It was here their son Arthur Stanley Jefferson would get his first taste of showbusiness, collecting tickets at the theatre's box office.

Performing was a huge part of life for the Jefferson family.

Both Arthur and Margaret were actors and the family's home at 17 Craigmillar Road in the south side was full of creativity and passion for the arts.

Stan always retained a strong affinity with Glasgow - the city his mother and father called home (Eddie Devine)

So much so that at just 16, the young Stan made his first steps into the spotlight, giving his debut performance at the city's Panoptican in 1906.

He soon ditched his birthname, Arthur, and adopted his first stage name: Stan Jefferson. In 1921 he switched it again to the now iconic Stan Laurel.

So much of what we know and love about Stan started on the Britannia Panopticon stage - it was here he made his bowler hat famous and perfected his comic timing - alongside none other than Charlie Chaplin.

While his career was to take him all over the world, Stan always retained a strong affinity with Glasgow - the city his mother and father called home.

Margaret never strayed from the south side - today you'll find her buried within Cathcart Cemetery not far from the flat in Battlefield where she raised her son.

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