Recollections from Trevor Thorpe 

It was around ten years ago and a sunny, clear and crisp New Years Day.  My wife and I had decided to drive to a favourite pub near Winchelsea in East Sussex for lunch.  We were driving down a country lane near the pub when, at a junction, we came across a small group of walkers enjoying the fresh air.  

Slowing down to allow them to cross, they waved us on.  As we slowly drew closer my wife (also a Spike fan) exclaimed “it’s Spike Milligan” and waved frantically at the group.  Spike smiled and waved back.  End of encounter!
 
A couple of years later.  I stood in a long queue at Waterstones in Tunbridge Wells waiting for him to autograph one of his books (I can’t recall which one).  Spike was a frequent visitor to this store in a book signing capacity –it was probably the closest one to his home near Rye.  Spike looked up from his signing and enquired in a loud voice “are you all queuing up in your lunch break?”.  “Yes” we all answered.  He replied triumphantly – “see, Spike Milligan can even help you lose weight”. 

Another couple of years on.  Same branch of Waterstones, similar length of queue.  The guy in front of me reached Spike, who, on noticing his size, enquired whether he played Rugby.  He replied that he did.  They then had a brief chat about Spike’s love of the game and playing career during which he mentioned that he had spent most of his time “trying to avoid big Bxxxxrs like you when I had the ball – as soon as I saw them getting close enough to tackle me I would try and dive into touch”. 

I was next and, although large, not a Rugby player!  He also asked me if I played the game.  I said that I didn’t, but that I occasionally went to watch London Scottish (my late father in law was a big fan of the team, Spike and the Goons).  He commented that I ought to support London Irish (his team) and was proud to tell me that they had beaten Leicester, one of the top teams, the previous Saturday.

There was another “Brief Encounter” in September 1992 at the White Rock Pavilion, Hastings (chronologically the first).  Ken Dodd (another comic hero of mine although somewhat different to Spike!) was performing and, in the interval, I saw Spike in the bar with a few other companions.  Sadly he did not appear well. 

My other memories are the ones that I prefer. 

It is a good that sites such as yours exist to keep alive the memory of comic giants such as Spike.