Inimitable Byng
Sir: It was an immense pleasure to see Alec Guinness's tribute to Douglas Byng (5 September). It saddens me that he never got any honours for his contribution to our lives in the Thirties. John Betjeman was very keen to have Byng's name on the Honours List and I know tried to achieve this. Betjeman treasured his copies of both Byng Ballads and More Byng Ballads.
My own memories of Douglas Byng go back to schooldays when surreptitiously I collected his records. They were strictly banned to us and Millie the Messy Old Mermaid, Nana of the Manor and Flora MacDonald, which Sir Alec mentions, had to be bought from a conniving dealer - out of bounds.
In the boudoir Auntie Nelly's Dusting down her Botticelli.
Nature peeps out all bright and clear For spring is in the air.
Memory of a verse I especially loved.
And from Naughty Victorian Days:
I made some wax fruit That I carefully painted. It was so like the vicar The parlourmaid fainted.
I never had a record of Queen of the Iceni — but I think the song was called Queen of the Obsceni.
High time that another LP should come out recording this inimitable and hilarious talent.
Derek Hill
Co. Donegal, Ireland
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