So farewell then, Humph
Published Date:
12 May 2008
IT WAS a great tonic to read Oliver Cross's article on Humphrey Lyttelton (YEP, May 2). 'Humph', as he was affectionately known, always had a patrician air of appearing slightly bored, which of course made him all the funnier (Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones drummer, has a similar aura about him)
'Humph', of course, was one of the most life-affirming characters you could ever desire to meet, whether as a jazz musician or hosting Radio 4's hilarious I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. He played jazz in the celebrating streets of London on VE day in May, 1945, too (not many know that).
Sad
It's always a little sad when we lose one of our great national characters, but he leaves an array, a host of happy memories.
To use a deep and profoundly meaningless H L signing-off line which came to me the other day (probably put in my mind by Humph as he went to heaven): "As the Gruyere cheese of fate melts mouthwateringly on the buttered wholemeal toast of providence, it's time to say goodbye."
Here's another one: "As the dragonfly of eternity hovers reprovingly over the water biscuit of fate, it's time... for me to shut up!" Farewell, Humphrey.
JOHN ROBERTS, St John's, Wakefield
The full article contains 214 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
12 May 2008 12:03 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Leeds
