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Humphrey
Gilbert 119732
Pilot Officer Humphrey Lestocq Gilbert
"Dec 16th…In the evening there is a bit of a party at the Bridge Hotel, Westgate, to celebrate. This includes P/O Gilbert, now returned to the Sqdn…" "Dec 26th. Apart from 6 eventless patrols, chief activity of Boxing Day is a 'comic' rugger match featuring 609 V. The Station. The MO appears in blood stained shorts, F/O Evans in long combinations, P/O Gilbert in pyjamas. Though the Station team look somewhat askance and take the game quite seriously, 609 wins, despite being attacked with soot bombs by a hostile Albacore of 841 Sqdn."
"Dec 25th…In the evening there is a dance at Doone House, at which the 2 chief sensations are 1. A horse which enters ridden by a soldier and a Waaf, 2. F/O Creteur dancing without, apparently any trousers - the illusion being achieved by the removal of his shirt and rolling his trousers below it."
Roland
Beamont records it thus: “Presently
the IO, Ziegy’, came in and said “I think you should come and see this”,
and when I rounded the door it was just in time to see the rear end of a horse
turning from the staircase onto the landing above! It then came to a halt on
being confronted by bedroom doors through which it could not enter. Despite this
its rider, who could now be seen to be Typhoon pilot Humphrey Gilbert, was
urging it on, jumping up and down in the saddle and shouting “Tally Ho!” The
horse was clearly impressed by all this and, deciding that Christmas gifts would
be appropriate, deposited a number all over the staircase and landing. Humphrey
saw me, then dismounted; slid down the banisters and saying “Just parking my
horse, Sir” disappeared into the bar. As the senior officer present it seemed
incumbent on me to do something; but what? Then light dawned – this was surely
what administrative officers were for, so summoning the unfortunate Squadron
Adj.O, I issued formal orders. He looked rather forlorn and said “What on
earth can I do about this” as he viewed the carnage all round. I said “Try
ringing the Station Admin Officer”, and rejoined the party. On the following
day a terse message came from the Station Commander demanding my presence, but I
found rather conveniently that I had to deal with urgent operational priorities,
and the excitement soon died down. This was to be the last of the arisings
involving Humphrey Gilbert who, commendably, had almost completed his ‘tour’
on the Squadron and who throughout his time with 609 had gained the dual
reputations of irrepressible humorist and practical joker, and formidable
pranger of Typhoons. He was becoming a problem in fact and when, without any
prompting from me, a requirement came in for the name of a pilot ‘finishing
his tour’ for posting to Palestine on target-towing duties, Humphrey was just
the man for the job! About
ten years later my wife, Pat, and I were attending an air function at London’s
Dorchester Hotel when we noticed that ‘Flying Officer Kyte’ was on the
programme. Postwar Humphrey had made a famous career on radio and cabaret with
his caricature of an RAF fighter pilot, complete with handlebar moustache and
stage name of Humphrey Lestoq. Then he came on stage, still the original
Humphrey Gilbert, and began his act. His eyes suddenly focused on our table and
he stopped, saying “My God, my old CO! Hello Sir, how are you? – Oh, I say,
I rather care for that!” Wondering how to escape this with any dignity, I
exchanged a few passes with him, and then he went on with his act. As soon as he
could afterwards, he advanced firmly towards us and said ‘Dear CO, I’ve
always wanted to ask you…how was it that I was suddenly posted to Palestine to
fly target towing?” – I still hadn’t the heart to tell him!” In
later years, due to his magnificent moustache, Gilbert became a member of the
‘Handlebars’ club. He was also awarded a children’s television award for
‘TV personality of the year’, being awarded his silver microphone Coliseum,
London. It was decided by a panel of eight children that Humphrey Lestocq (HL as
he was known, the stooge) and his friend, (often joined by Sarah Swede and
Colonel Beetroot) the string puppet Mr. Turnip (invented by Joy Laurey, and
whose voice was created by Peter Hawkins) had the edge over Annette Mills and
her Muffin the Mule. Incidentally, HL's catchphrase was "Goody, Goody
Gumdrops" while Mr Turnip's was "Lawky, Lawky, Lum".
He was also renowned as Flying Officer Kyte in the radio show "Much
Binding In The Marsh" Filmography. 1966
Avengers: What The Butler Saw - Character played: Vice Admiral Willows 1964
Life in Danger - Character played: Inspector Bennet
1962
Design for Loving - Character played: Manager
1962
Waltz of the Toreadors - Character played: Huntsman
1962
The Golden Rabbit
1961
Bomb in the High Street - Character played: Reporter
1961
The Court Martial of Major Keller - Character played: Lt. Cameron
1961
Pit of Darkness - Character played: Bill
1961
The Long Shadow - Character played: Bannister
1961
Two Wives at One Wedding - Character played: Mark
1961
The Third Alibi - Character played: Producer
1960
Not a Hope in Hell - Character played: Cricklegate
1959
The Son of Robin Hood - Character played: Blunt
1959
The Unstoppable Man - Character played: Sgt. Plummer
1953
Meet Mr. Lucifer - Character played: Arthur Simmonds
1953
Conflict of Wings 1953
The Good Beginning - Character played: Thorogood
1952
School for Brides - Character played: Jimmy Bradley
1952
Angels One Five - Character played: F/Lt. 'Batchy' Salter
1952
Once a Sinner - Character played: Lewis Canfield
1952
Come Back Peter - Character played: Arthur Hapgood
1950
Fake's Progress - Character played: Commentator
1949
Stop Press Girl - Character played: Commentator |
Copyright © 2002 609 (West Riding)
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