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One of the curiosities of local history is the discrepancy in biographical information that can exist across the spectrum of personalities with local links. While the life stories of many 'famous residents' have been documented 'chapter and verse', often even for those who lived centuries ago, other lives are tantalisingly short on information.

A prime example of the latter is one VIKI DOBSON (that spelling is correct). Consider the short summary of her achievements presented by the Derby Evening Telegraph in 1937.

In a piece no more than a few lines long we are told that 'Miss Dobson' has just landed her first role in a feature film - the 1937 UK release Catch As Catch Can (known as Atlantic Episode for the American market). In the cast list alongside her were James Mason and Margaret Rutherford, who both went on to become very famous names in cinema.

The piece further tells us that the budding starlet Viki is the daughter of 'the Derby reverend, the vicar of St. Barnabas' Church, in Radbourne Street'.

But there the trail disappears. No cinematic reference works have yet been uncovered to suggest that Viki Dobson ever appeared in another film. Nor does an internet search reveal significant further information about her. Indeed a number of 'film buff' sites appeal for more details about her life.

So here we have a Derby resident of the 1930s who had a fleeting success on the silver screen, but about whom virtually nothing appears to be known by anyone on the planet!

Yet it is quite feasible that Derbeians in the 'senior age range' could have known Viki Dobson or her family. So if you can add anything at all about Derby's 'mystery film star' then please share your knowledge with the international fraternity of film fans by clicking the 'edit' link at the top of this page.

Viki Dobson - who was she and what happened to her? Answers here please!

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County:  Derbyshire

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