An obituary of Humphrey Lyttelton written by Graeme appeared in this Sunday's edition of The Observer.  The online version is available at http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/dec/14/graeme-garden-remembers-humphrey-lyttelton 


Love and loss: obituaries 2008

Humphrey Lyttelton
The much-loved jazz musician and presenter of Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue died aged 86 on 25 April, and is remembered by one of the show's panelists

Graeme Garden
The Observer, Sunday 14 December 2008

got to know Humphrey Lyttelton over the 36 years he spent as chairman of BBC Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. Oddly enough, I and the other regulars only felt we really got to know him over the last few months of his life, when we were touring a version of the programme as a theatrical show. His great skill as chairman was in appearing not to care, to be above and apart from the goings-on between the players. Of course he cared a great deal, but his attitude of bored indifference sat well with a man so private and protective of his personal life. He was charming and affable, happy to socialise in the bar after a show, but none of us ever had his phone number.
Humph didn't suffer fools gladly, but he did suffer them politely.

On tour we all found ourselves spending more time together than we had done before, hanging around theatres and hotels or sharing a meal or a post-show drink to unwind. Humph would relax and entertain us all with talk of his jazz career, casually dropping enough legendary names to make Barry Cryer green with envy. He spoke of his background and his family, his army experiences in wartime, and of course his band. He became positively chatty.
I think he felt relaxed because he was enjoying doing the tour so much. The material was much the same for every performance, and Humph was gleefully finding ways to embellish his script. The old jazzer's instinct for improvisation was kicking in, and he thrived on it. At times his pose of lofty disdain was in danger of slipping, and after one particularly sparky performance, Tim Brooke-Taylor had to reprimand him: 'Careful, Humph, you almost looked like you were enjoying it!'

He was a gracious and courtly man, and I rarely heard him swear, but when he did use a bad word it was always justified and perfectly placed. He was as precise in his choice of words as he was in his calligraphic handwriting.
The last I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue he chaired was a performance of our stage tour in Harrogate. After the show we all stayed at a hotel, and next morning we met for breakfast. Humph began his meal with a modest bowl of prunes, but as he took the first spoonful his face collapsed in dismay. He looked round in despair and asked the world in general: 'How do you <expletive deleted> up a prune?'

At the end of each stage show we'd play 'We'll Meet Again' with Colin Sell at the piano, Tim Brooke-Taylor and myself on the swanee whistle, and Barry Cryer, Jeremy Hardy and the entire audience on kazoos. As we tootled away Jon Naismith, the producer, would bring Humph's trumpet onstage and, to cheers from the crowd, hand it reverently to the man himself. The rest of us, apart from Colin at the piano, would then put aside our musical toys as Humph took over. As the last high trumpet note rang round the chandeliers, the audience would rise as one in a standing ovation. We all knew it wasn't for the show they were standing and cheering. It was for Humph....



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Bill has joined an appeal to raise funding for restoration of the Bridport Arts Centre, according to an article at http://www.thisisdorset.net/search/3969369.__250_000_appeal_to_revamp_Bridport_arts_centre/

£250,000 appeal to revamp Bridport arts centre 8:50am Sunday 14th December 2008

BRIDPORT Arts Centre has launched a £250,000 star-studded appeal to carry out major restoration work.

Bill Oddie and author Fay Weldon have joined with Billy Bragg and PJ Harvey as patrons of the fundraiser.

The appeal will be launched next week with the Show of Hands gig on December
18 – featuring appearances from Bragg, The Village Band, Jackie Oates, Reg Meuross, plus Simon Emmerson of Afro Celt Sound System.

It will be followed up throughout 2009 with a series of events.

It has already got off to a good start after one supporter pledged £25,000 and the recent literary festival has seen of the appeal.

Springwatch presenter Bill Oddie said he agreed to join after his recent visit to the 200-seater theatre and exhibition venue during the Literacy Festival.

He said: “I’ve loved Dorset for many years and although I know corners of it really well, I’d never been to Bridport Arts Centre.

“It was a revelation. We need to make sure we raise this money to make sure it’s here for the next generation.”

The arts centre hopes to meet its target with a mixture of public trusts and foundations, local fundraising and individual giving.

After Show of Hands the next fundraiser will be the Valentine’s Night cabaret on February 12 and the centre is producing its own charity wristbands in January which they hope people in the town will wear to show their support.

If the appeal target of £250,000 is reached, the arts centre plans to re-pave the courtyard for al fresco dining with heating and lighting.

Although difficult financial times lay ahead for 2009, arts centre Director Lindsay Brooks says she wants the town to see the ‘We ª BAC’ appeal as an opportunity to have fun.

She said: “We are planning lots of entertaining events which we hope everyone will enjoy as well as helping us to raise money.” The centre was opened by a small, dedicated group of people in 1973.

It now runs a programme of theatre, art and education, which has been singled out for praise by the Arts Council.