The Grafton Arms, SW1 (1850)
Michael Bentine, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan chose the Grafton Arms as their local pub after the war. In fact Spike Milligan even rented a room above the premises and helped out behind the bar. In 1948 the three men met Peter Sellers – an ex wartime ENSA performer – and the four began meeting regularly at the Grafton on a Sunday night.
Their meet-ups produced such a rich vein of comedy that they began recording their conversations. They referred to themselves as the “Crazy People” and later as “The Goons”. And with the help of landlord James Grafton (who did a spot of scriptwriting, and had BBC connections), they eventually landed themselves a spot on the radio.
londonspubswherehistoryreallyhappened.wordpress.com/2020/...
The Grafton Arms, SW1 (1850)
Michael Bentine, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan chose the Grafton Arms as their local pub after the war. In fact Spike Milligan even rented a room above the premises and helped out behind the bar. In 1948 the three men met Peter Sellers – an ex wartime ENSA performer – and the four began meeting regularly at the Grafton on a Sunday night.
Their meet-ups produced such a rich vein of comedy that they began recording their conversations. They referred to themselves as the “Crazy People” and later as “The Goons”. And with the help of landlord James Grafton (who did a spot of scriptwriting, and had BBC connections), they eventually landed themselves a spot on the radio.
londonspubswherehistoryreallyhappened.wordpress.com/2020/...