Spike Milligan

[Mrs Fish]

ananova said:

Last laugh on Spike's grave Even in death, comic genius Spike Milligan has raised a laugh among his adoring fans. Two years after he died aged 83, relatives of the Goon Show creator have erected a headstone on his grave bearing the star's epitaph: "I told you I was ill." But only those well versed in Gaelic will be able to read the inscriptions on the Celtic cross memorial at St Thomas's Church in Winchelsea, East Sussex. Milligan's family had been unable to agree on a headstone, and finally settled on the Gaelic text to meet with approval from the Chichester Diocese. The headstone bears the words "Duirt me leat go raibh me breoite", or "I told you I was ill", and the English words "Love, light, peace". Milligan, who died in 2002, lived at Udimore, near Rye, and had three children with his first wife, June Marlow, and one with his second wife, Patricia Ridgeway. He had two other illegitimate children. His widow, Shelagh, whom he married in 1983, applied for the headstone last year. Bill Horsman, chairman of the Goon Show Preservation Society, said today: "News of the headstone going up on Spike's grave is marvellous. We had been very concerned for some time about the situation. "It was very sad that the grave was in such a state, but it was down to very sensitive family problems and we simply could not get involved. "We're very pleased it's been resolved and with such a classic Spike line. We all fell about laughing when we heard it."

[DanBoy]

Heard this on the radio.

I've just finished reading "Musolini - His Part in My Downfall" by Spike Milligan. It's probably the funniest book I've read.

[obes]

He was a genius. No question.

[stackmonkey]

DanBoy said:

Heard this on the radio. I've just finished reading "Musolini - His Part in My Downfall" by Spike Milligan. It's probably the funniest book I've read.

I must buy that, plus his others. Absolutely superb humour that few can equal. The guy was a comedic genius.

[mutley]

Well done Spike, once again he has beaten the system! A true miss to English humour.

As for his war books, all 7 are excellent, but they get more serious as the war goes on his depression sets in. You can see the humour is forced at points. Well written and I'm always reading them.

[tvrgit]

Spike was a genius - he gave a new direction to comedy, and his influence can still be seen.

I'll always remember his ad-lib "grovelling bd" comment on being presented with a letter from Prince Charles when he received his lifetime achievement reward... sheer genius...

[Plotloss]

I got off the train in Edinburgh. Drill Sergeant said to me 'Where are you from boy?'
'London, Sir'
'Which part boy?'
'Oh, all of me sir'

God rest you Spike you absolute genius.

[stuttgartmetal]

Spike. An Intimate Memoir. By Norma Farnes.

Halfway through this book, and can't put it down.
Not funny ha ha, its rivetting.

Recommended.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/book-spike-norma-farnes-...