Humphrey Lestocq (23 January 1919 – 29 January 1984)[1] was a British actor, best known for his roles in Angels One Five (1952) and The Long Shadow (1961), and guest appearances in the television series The Avengers.[2]

Humphrey Lestocq
Born
Humphrey Lestocq Gilbert

23 January 1919
Chiswick, London, England
Died29 January 1984(1984-01-29) (aged 65)
London, England
OccupationActor

Lestocq shot to fame as Flying Officer Kyte in the BBC radio wartime comedy Merry-Go-Round (1944–1948), which later evolved into Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh.[3]

He was also one of the presenters on the TV series Whirligig, the first Saturday children's programme to be broadcast live from the BBC's Lime Grove Studios. It ran from 1950 to 1956. Calling himself "H.L.", he was the stooge of the puppet Mr. Turnip, voiced by Peter Hawkins. Lestocq's catchphrases were "Goody, Goody Gumdrops" and "Jolly D", and Mr. Turnip's was "Lawky, Lawky, Lum".[4][5]

Family

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He was born Humphrey Lestocq Gilbert on 23 January 1919 in Chiswick, London, England. His parents were George Marx Gilbert and May Frances née Wooldridge, married 1911 in Brentford (Chiswick). They had three sons, George (1912), Maurice (1913), and Humphrey. He married Dallas E Edwards in 1943. They had two children – Michael (1945), and Patricia (1947).[2] That marriage finished and Gilbert lived in common-law marriage with Mary Barnard Bilton until his death. After retiring from acting, he ran a fishing fleet from Rye Harbour, East Sussex. He was an avid collector of English silver coins. He died on 29 January 1984 in London.[2]

Gilbert's mother came from a large family around Brentford, London. Her father was William Lestocq.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1949 Stop Press Girl Radio Commentator
1950 Once a Sinner Lewis Canfield
1950 Fake's Progress Commentator
1951 Two on the Tiles Jimmy Bradley
1952 Angels One Five Flight Lt. 'Batchy' Salter
1952 Miss Robin Hood Drunk Driver Uncredited
1952 Come Back Peter Arthur Hapgood
1953 The Good Beginning Thoroughgood
1953 Meet Mr. Lucifer Arthur
1954 Conflict of Wings Sqd. Ldr. Davidson
1958 The Son of Robin Hood Blunt
1959 Life in Danger Inspector Bennet
1960 Not a Hope in Hell Cricklegate
1961 The Unstoppable Man Sgt. Plummer
1961 The Long Shadow Bannister
1961 Two Wives at One Wedding Mark
1961 The Third Alibi Producer
1961 Pit of Darkness Bill
1961 The Court Martial of Major Keller Lieutenant Cameron
1962 The Golden Rabbit
1962 Design for Loving Club manager
1962 Waltz of the Toreadors Fox Hunter Uncredited
1963 Bomb in the High Street Reporter

References

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  1. ^ "Humphrey Lestocq". BFI. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Humphrey Lestocq at IMDb
  3. ^ "Humphrey Lestocq". clickautographs.com.
  4. ^ "Whirligig". Turnipnet.com. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Peter Hawkins". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 March 2014.