BOB Hounslow has fond memories of seeing the Crazy Gang in action at the New Theatre, Oxford.

He had a rare insight into what went on behind the scenes because his mother Win was a dresser there.

Mr Hounslow writes: “In one of their later shows, they did the ‘Belfry Sketch’, in which, dressed in monks’ habits, each one with a bell rope, they were ringing bells in the belfry.

“That is until the Abbot leaves the stage, whereupon little Charlie Naughton realises that if he hangs on to his bell rope after the down stroke, he will go high up in the air.

“Soon the rest of the gang are joining in the fun. It was such a funny sight, your sides soon ached with laughter.

“The sketch ended when the Abbot returned, wagged his finger at them and the curtain descended. What the audience didn’t realise was that at the other end of the ropes were stage hands pulling the ropes over a pulley to lift each one of the gang into the air.

“It was all right for the stage hands pulling up little Charlie Naughton, but not much fun for those pulling on Bud Flanagan’s rope, as he was no lightweight.

“One night, after the sketch, Bud was standing there, wiping the sweat off his face with a towel my mother had given him.

“He looked across at the exhausted stage hands and said scornfully to my mum: “Look at them, Win – we’re all old men, but we’re a darn sight fitter than that lot!”

Mr Hounslow, of Squires Close, Brize Norton, also recalls Bud’s solo performances.

“He had only to wander on stage in his trademark battered straw hat, then stand there with that infectious grin, and you’d start to laugh before he said a word.”

He sent in a picture which five of the gang signed for his mother.

“Rightfully dubbed the Kings of Comedy, they were masters of their craft, the like of which we shall never see again, although you can still hear Bud’s wistful voice singing the introduction of Dad’s Army when it’s repeated on television.”