Jimmy Grafton

James Douglas Grafton
Born	Template:Birth date Westminster, London, England
Died	June 2, 1986(1986-06-02) (aged 70) Chichester, England
Occupation(s)	Theatrical agent, writer, producer
Known for	The Goon Show, scriptwriting, theatrical agency

James Douglas Grafton (19 May 1916 – 2 June 1986) was a theatrical agent, writer, and producer. During World War II, he served as an officer in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross for his leadership during Operation Market Garden.

Following the war, Grafton took charge of the family-run Grafton's pub in London, simultaneously working part-time as a scriptwriter. This establishment became a gathering place for comedians such as Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, and Michael Bentine. He was instrumental in helping them secure their BBC show, which eventually became known as The Goon Show. Grafton also fulfilled the role of script editor for its initial three series and acted as Harry Secombe’s agent for more than 25 years.

He passed away in 1986 at the age of 70.

Biography

Born in Westminster, London on 19 May 1916, Grafton had a twin brother named Peter. His education took place at Westminster City School and Sutton Valence School. In 1935, he was commissioned into the Territorial Army before transferring to the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment with the rank of major. He earned the Military Cross for his courageous leadership during Operation Market Garden and also wrote sketches to entertain fellow soldiers while awaiting demobilisation.

After being demobilised in 1946, Grafton returned to London to oversee the family’s Grafton's pub, which had been owned since 1848. Alongside managing the pub, he served as a Westminster city councillor and contributed as a scriptwriter for comedian Derek Roy on Variety Bandbox. Roy was also related to him as his second cousin.

Comedian Michael Bentine introduced Grafton to Harry Secombe, whom he had seen on Variety Bandbox. Secombe and Bentine soon brought in Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan. When Milligan required lodging, Grafton offered him accommodation above the pub; this location became their central meeting point. As their act developed into The Goon Show, Grafton provided guidance on their comedic style and career paths, earning him the nickname KOGVOS—(Keeper of Goons and Voice of Sanity). The pub attracted many notable figures from radio and entertainment, including Terry-Thomas, Jimmy Edwards, Dick Emery, Tommy Cooper, Kenneth More, Beryl Reid, Clive Dunn, Graham Stark, Tony Hancock, and Larry Stephens.

In 1950, using his contacts at the BBC, Grafton arranged an audition for the Goons and secured announcer Andrew Timothy, a former military colleague, to serve as programme link. Although their initial audition was unsuccessful, a subsequent recording in 1951 led to their engagement for Crazy People, which was later renamed The Goon Show. Grafton acted as script editor during its first three series.

By this time, he was one of Harry Secombe’s two agents—a position he held for over a quarter-century—while continuing his extensive scriptwriting career. He wrote more than 500 programmes spanning radio (Variety Bandbox, The Goon Show, Billy Cotton Band Show), film (Down Among the Z Men, A Santa for Christmas, Sunstruck), and television (The Dickie Henderson Half-Hour, Pepys, along with numerous projects featuring Secombe).

Married to Dorothy (née Bleackley), they had two children. Grafton died in Chichester on 2 June 1986; later that year, a memorial service took place at Chelsea Barracks.

Selected writing credits

• Variety Bandbox (Radio)
• London Entertains (Film, 1951)
• The Goon Show (Radio, 1951–53)
• Goonreel (Television, 1952)
• Down Among the Z Men (Film, 1952)
• Billy Cotton Band Show (Radio, 1956–65)
• A Santa for Christmas (Film, 1957)
• New Look (Television, 1959)
• The Dickie Henderson Half-Hour (Television, 1959–64; 1971)
• Secombe and Friends (Television, 1966)
• Mum's Boys (Television, 1968)
• Sunstruck (Film, 1972)
• The Harry Secombe Show (Television, 1972–73)
• Relatively Secombe (Television, 1978)
• Secombe With Music (Television, 1980–82)
• Pepys (Television, 1983)

Notes and references

Notes

References

External links

• Jimmy Grafton profile at the British Film Institute