The 5th of October this year is the 50th anniversary of the original BBC Radio 4 broadcast of The Last Goon Show of All. As many of the original cast as possible had been gathered for the show, which itself was recorded to celebrate the BBCs 50th anniversary. It was after that show that enthusiasts came together to form the Goon Show Preservation Society.
To celebrate all these 50th anniversaries, we’ve produced an anniversary edition of our newsletter, Goon Show News, which is on its way to our members. The magazine is full of stories and our members reminiscences of both the show and the fifty years the GSPS has been around.
LAST CALL Tyler Adams is planning an episode of the Goon Pod podcast for later in the year, to feature a list of the top twenty Goon Shows. To help compile the list, he’s asking all Goon fans to send him a message with the titles of their three favourite shows. Not an easy choice… Tyler can be contacted through GoonPod’s Facebook or Twitter page, or by email at tyler.adams1974@gmail.com.
A group of us gathered at Stephens House and Gardens in Finchley on 24th September for our 2022 AGM event.
As far as the formal business of the meeting went, a fierce and wide-ranging debate lasting several moments led to the re-election of the whole GSPS Committee.
Other business of the day included marking the 50th anniversary of The Last Goon Show of All and the approaching 100th birthday of Michael Bentine. This featured a particularly fine cake created by the stage Goon actor, Mark Earby.
The highlights of the day involved Spike Milligan’s daughters, Jane and Silé. They conducted us on a tour of the lodge building at Stephens House, which is becoming the nerve centre of Spike Milligan Productions Ltd, and housing a developing archive of Spike’s belongings. Some day in the future it will be open to visitors. We all took the opportunity to visit the Spike Milligan memorial bench, which is just a few paces away.
After that, Jane and Silé were interviewed by Mark Cousins. The discussion, which ranged from growing up as Milligan children to what they’d like Spike’s legacy to be, delighted everyone present.
Watch out for a full report, coming to a GSPS newsletter soon.
The Michael Bentine birthday cakeJane and Silé cut the cakeMark interviews Jane and Silé Milligan memorabilia in the LodgeMilligan memorabilia in the LodgeOn display in Stephens HouseSpike and RichardMilligan memorabilia in the LodgeThe very piano the Q theme was played on
Photos courtesy of Duncan Gray, Darren Vidler and Richard Usher
Since 1998, the Goon Show Preservation Society has been honoured and enjoyed the patronage which HRH Prince Charles bestowed on us. This reflected his personal support. Famously, he is a big fan of the show who was very disappointed to miss the Last Goon Show of All recording, fifty years ago.
Everyone is aware of Charles’ accession to the throne. The GSPS sent a message of condolence to him as the events unfolded. As our new King, we wish him the most heartfelt support for the years ahead. Long may he reign.
There will undoubtedly be changes to the patronages which King Charles III maintains. We’ll wait to hear in the fulness of time whether the GSPS will continue to be honoured.
Prince Charles’ watercolours book – gifted to Spike
Spike, the play written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, has hit the road and is touring the country. Your humble website builder has his tickets for a Glasgow performance and is waiting in a state of severe excitement.
BBC Radio 4 Xtra news / GSPS Archive news Whichever… it’s news
The Beeb Beeb Ceeb has announced the closure of some broadcast services including Radio 4 Xtra, the current home of the weekly rebroadcast of The Goon Show (airs Tuesday at 08:00, 12:00 and 19:00). Listeners of this station should not be too concerned, as it is strongly rumoured that Radio 4 Xtra will continue online as a digital service available via BBC Sounds.
Following the recent discovery that the BBC has been quietly cutting inappropriate things from programmes before rebroadcast, the highly-unpaid staff at Encyclopædia Goonicus Productions Unlimited have been capturing all episodes of The Goon Show from the latest series of rebroadcasts that commenced on Tuesday 21st December 2021, with an airing of series 6, episode 9: The International Christmas Pudding. These programmes will later be compared with previous broadcasts and recordings to determine the extent of the cuts.
Volunteers to participate in the exercise should submit their application forms together with the sizeable entrance fee to the editor of this publication. Our quest to preserve The Goon Show continues …
Hercules Grytpype-Thynne aka someone else… famed archivist protector and preserver
Herewith, hereby and herein, we give notice that this year’s AGM will be held on
Saturday 24th September 2022, 10:00am to 5:00pm in the Stephens Room at Stephens House and Gardens, Avenue House, 17 East End Road, Finchley, London N3 3QE
REASONS FOR COMING: you will see: the Spike Milligan Memorial Bench Guided tour by Jane Milligan of: The Lodge: new headquarters of Spike Milligan Productions Ltd Spike’s own personal archive from 9 Orme Court, Bayswater, including: all sorts of wonderful stuff.
Lunch is available to buy at Inky’s Stables Café on the premises.
Car parking is limited, on-road available. Please note: do not cross the North Circular Rd into the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) or you will be liable for a charge. You can pre-register and if you enter within they will charge you. I knew nothing about ULEZ and got a big fine…
An announcement has been made, and it could be the highlight of the year. Spike, the play by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, is being taken on a nationwide tour this very coming autumn.
The play was first produced earlier this year at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury. It focuses on Spike Milligan in the early years of the Goon Show, with the comedy of the show contrasting with the after-effects of World War II and his battles with the BBC management. A number of our members attended the show in Newbury and loved it.
The tour dates are listed below. For details of the cast and to book your tickets, go to spiketheplay.co.uk.
Let’s give a shout-out to Nick Reeve, who’s doing his bit to promote the Goon Show. Nick publishes a blog at The Seagoon Memoirs which he describes as ‘an attempt to channel this obsession into something creative, chronicle the show’s history, development and legacy, and in some small way contribute to preserving this masterpiece of British radio comedy.‘
Now, that’s something we can all support. Keep up the good work Nick.
The Goon Show Preservation Society 