Billy Matchett was born at a time that was probably the height of the Music Hall era. His birth date is somewhat disputed in published matter as 27th or 28th August in 1889 or 1890, however his son Ken Matchett gives us 28th August 1889.

There are few references to him in the literature although Roy Hudd gives us a personal view of the man and his performance in 'Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts':

"Comedian. Born Liverpool, 1890. A Liverpool comic of the old school. I saw him as Chairman in Old Tyme Music Hall. He had all the attack and gusto of the music hall, having learned his trade the tradional Scouser way, via smokers, working men's clubs and concert party. He graduated to play variety, revue and pantomime (always as the dame) at almost every theatre in Britain. He was a regular broadcaster in John Sharman's Music Hall. He died in his beloved Liverpool in 1973".

Canon Smout  has an entry for Billy in his book 'Mersey Stars' but I have not seen the book and the internet only has details of the book itself without any internet presence of its author.

Billy first saw life at 46 Merlin Street. His father, George Matchett was a stevedore at the local docks. His early days were tinged with tragedy. His Mother died early and when his father remarried Billy with his two younger brothers went to live with their Grandmother. He was a pupil at Harrington Board School Liverpool but his attendance was spasmodic. In those days when money was in very short supply Billy took on jobs whenever he could to bring in a little money and eventually left school early to help keep the family.

He worked on Liverpool Docks when he could, as a docker but was often thwarted by his father, who selected the workers for the gangs and was frightened of being accused of 'nepotism'

Billy had the drive to entertain and to there were many outlets for talent. In the early 1900's there were between thirty and forty theatres in the area as well as Concert Parties, Masonic Dinners and amateur competitions all of which we are assured, he tried.   
He partnered Bob Moore and they worked as a semi-pro double act billed as ‘Matchett and Moore’ but Billy had the urge to go solo.

An undated unnamed newspaper cutting of an interview with him quotes 

" ----- He first came to light in 1909 as a new comedian, when he topped the bill at the Empire, Wakefield, at the magnificent salary of £6 per week. After his first evening’s experience he was convinced he had made his name and had visions of living on the same plane as Sir Harry Lauder and George Robey, particularly when a wire arrived on Tuesday morning asking if he would open at Stockton the following week at "fifty for the week". A hurried rush to the post office and a return wire which read ‘Yes’, was his first step on the rung of fortune’s ladder. Traveling first class, and living at a good hotel in the town, he arrived on Saturday for his "Fifty" and received it, but judge of his astonishment when this was in shillings. The management informed him they never wired in pounds. "

He is also credited as turning professional with “ Liverpool debut 1912 at the Westminster Music Hall.”  

He came to London in 1913 and his first appearance was at the Alexandra Palace, Stoke Newington. Later that year he appeared in his first of many pantomimes at the Opera House Middlesborough. Over the years he appeared in more than forty pantomimes, mostly as Dame.

With the onset of war in 1914 he served in the 6th King’s and 10th (Scottish) King’s (Liverpool Regiments). Incidentally, one of his officers was Basil Rathbone.

In 1915 he married Alice Clayton and the union produced three children, Rhona, Audrey and Kenneth.
At the end of the war he was allowed to form the 55th Division ‘ The Roses’ Concert Party until his discharge.  After demobilisation he appeared annually during the peacetime British Army  Occupation of the Rhine principally in Cologne and Wiesbaden until 1926.

Following WWI he rented a cottage in Penny Lane, a place later to be made famous by the "Beatles"

Through the twenties he took on a summer engagement and took the family with him for the holidays. The children enjoyed it immensely. 

In 1927 he made his London, West End debut as principal comic at the ‘Alhambra’ Leicester Square (now Warner Cinema) in Florrie Forde’s show ‘The Mirthquake’ from which he took his billing, although this was changed when he was appearing in Liverpool, when he was billed as "Liverpool's Own"

His theatre hay-day seems to be through the thirties when he was keep busy appearing in many Road Shows with ‘The Two Leslies’- Sarony and Holmes, and often with Sandy Powell in summer seasons on Onchan Head, Isle Of Man.

In 1934 he took part, with his son Ken, in recording "Sandy joins the Short Shirts" and other recordings.
In 1936 he toured South Africa with Wee Georgie Wood in pantomime. He regularly played the Moss and Stoll Empire circuit as well as Concert Parties and Summer Shows in most British seaside resorts including Blackpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Douglas IoM, Felixstowe, Folkstone, Margate, Southport and Gt Yarmouth. He was very popular in Ireland, both North and South, where his billing was again changed to "Ireland's Own".

Throughout WWII he served with ENSA entertaining the Services. Following ‘D’ day in 1945 he toured Belgium, Germany and Holland 

  In the thirties and forties Radio had come into its own as an entertainment medium and Billy frequently broadcast in both pre-war and post-war years up until the 60's. He was featured in Variety shows and Workers’ Playtime and in later years, in Old Tyme Music Hall often with his own act or as Chairman. He appeared in the television series of the same title.

In later years until the age of 81 years he specialised in the role of Music Hall Chairman with seasons on Guernsey (Channel Islands) and other resorts, in fact, wherever Variety Shows were still billed. He claimed to have performed in every theatre in the land at least once.

He was a member of the Variety Artists Federation and the Grand Order of the Water Rats.
His hobbies included football, he was a lifelong supporter and even one time, Hon President of Liverpool F C supporter’s club. He enjoyed golf, swimming and (house) painting.

He died aged 85 years in the Alfred Jones Memorial Hospital Garston Liverpool on 15th November 1974

 Informants : K W Matchett OBE (son) and Max Tyler, Historian of BMHS. April 2001