Mignon Harman (1912-1946) claimed, to Sir Kenneth Clark, to be the secret, illegitimate, daughter of Sir Edward Elgar. Until now her origins have been untraceable, but the 1921 census has provided unexpected clues. Whether she knew the truth, or was mistaken, her story, and the story of her adoptive parents, Lilian and William O’Callaghan (sometimes Nelson) is fascinating, bizarre and tragic, touching on a variety of extraordinary people in the arts and politics.
This work began in 2012. This story gradually emerged as new archive material was released. In 2023 a fellow researcher finally identified who Mignon actually was. This is an updated and corrected version of the full story. Some mysteries remain.
The is also a detailed account of the life of the mysterious Aimee Mallabey which intersects and, perhaps, affects, the story of Mignon.
Mignon is one of the eight dancers shown with here Jack Buchanan – but which?
