Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Windsor Davies RIP

I never found it funny either, I don’t think I’m a (62 year old) snowflake because it’s not that it’s not p.c. (what was in those days?) it just didn’t make me laugh. I guess humour is very much like cars, what appeals to some doesn’t tickle everyone’s fancy, just as well really else everybody would be driving Morgans

The one thing I did like about the show was Windsor Davies fabulous portrayal of a Sergeant Major.

It reminds me of the RSM of our CCF at school (formerly RSM of the Coldstream Guards). He once sidled up behind one of my pals, whose hair was touching the top of his ears and yelled "Am I hurting you son ? Well I should be. I'm standing on your f***ing hair !!!!"

Dad used to watch it and it reminded him of his army days . I very much doubt if the TV companies with there nose up there arse and so PC would put it on TV again . Hence the dull rubbish they call humour these days.

I think to find it funny you have to have had experience of the Services in the 1960s and early 70s.

I was part of the Air Training Corps back then and found the show hysterically funny: I'd met people who matched most of the characters, especially the dimwit Officer...!!

But it is Homophobic, Racist and most other things that melt snowflakes, so sadly it will never be shown by the BBC, despite bing a good example of social history.

Similarly I was on ATC summer camp at RAF Ta'Qali, Malta GC, in 1962, doing press-ups as part of our morning PT regime. I was clearly doing it wrong because suddenly the drill sergeant bent down and bellowed in my ear "what do you think you are doing, laddie, shagging an ant?". Whereupon the entire Flight collapsed in a heap, laughing.

As to IAHHM, I thought the characterisations were spot-on, especially Michael Bates as Ranji. Snowflakes must remember he was acting, for goodness sake. I cannot abide revisionism.

Sorry what's a CCF?

Andy

What do people who aren't snowflakes call themselves?

Me too. It was like something out of the 1950s. Almost embarrassing to watch. Were we really supposed to find risible the idea of a white guy blacked up doing a pantomime Indian accent? I class it with Love thy Neighbour in the 'best forgotten' category.

Indeed, I can testify to that. Imagine my surprise to find him, singing on his own with amplified backing music, in a pedestrianised Taunton High Street one lunchtime 15 or so years ago. I enjoyed his singing and had a chat and bought several of his tapes (casettes in those days), when he had finished his set. He was a really nice guy and sad that he had to sing in a shopping centre for money.

The "white guy blacked up with pantomime accent" was the actor Michael Bates. He was born in Jhansi, was a Gurkha officer and served with the Chindits in Burma. He spoke fluent Urdu.

There were a number of Asian performers in It 'Aint Half Hot Mum but Micheal Bates was the only one born in India.