William Joseph Lee Colverd (5 February 1870 – 2 April 1964), who used the stage name Arthur Reece, was an English comedian and singer who performed in music halls.
William worked in the civil service before taking the name Arthur Reece for his stage performances.
He became well known as a comedian and singer in the style of Charles Godfrey, who gave Reece permission to sing his songs where he was not working himself.
[2] His best remembered song is "Sons of the Sea", written by Felix McGlennon, which Reece performed wearing the uniform of a naval officer.
[4] Reece's other successful songs included the much-parodied "When There Isn’t a Girl About",[5] and "The Wedding Bells Shall Not Ring Out".