A generous £5000 donation has been left to the RNLI in memory of Humphrey Lestocq.
Humphrey was for many years the Hon. Secretary of Rye Harbour Lifeboat station in East Sussex and a well-loved local figure.
Last year in July his wife Mary died, leaving in her will a donation to the RNLI in memory of her late husband, Humphrey Lestocq. He was an actor in the early days of television and was one of the presenters of the TV series Whirligig, the first children’s programme to be broadcast live from the BBC’s Lime Grove Studios. Mary was a stage manager for many shows in London, including “Look Back in Anger” but during the actors’ strike in 1963 she became so disenchanted with her trade that she decided to take an entirely new career path. The couple moved to Rye and set up a business called “Mary and I” and later Mary set up a photographic business which flourished, as she was very talented. Sheila Caister, who was Mary’s photographic assistant, recalls: “Mary was lovely to work for and had a sharp wit which often had us both in stitches. Her work was innovative. She photographed many local people and one of the funniest was when Spike Milligan asked me to hold a gun to his head. She was so much fun to work with and is sorely missed.”
They had a house built in the Harbour and during the time that they lived there they made many friends. Mary and “Humph”, as he was known, made frequent trips to the “Conk”, the local hostelry the real name of which is William the Conqueror, which was conveniently right next door. This is where the friendly couple got to know the crew-members of the Rye Harbour RNLI and a bond was forged. Humph became Hon. Secretary for many years.
When Mary was a youngster she spent many holidays in the East Neuk of Fife. With its many attractions and coastal harbours it is easy to see what drew her back so many times as an adult. It became her favourite part of Scotland: indeed, Humph’s and Mary’s boat, which they moored in Rye Harbour, was built at the shipyard of St. Monan’s.
It was no surprise that Mary’s ashes were cast on the sea in her favourite part of the world. Michael Gilbert, Mary’s step-son, presented the donation cheque to Ansthruther Coxswain Michael Bruce and Treasurer David Thomson who accepted it on behalf of the RNLI.
Legacies are vital to the RNLI because they help to train their volunteers to the highest standard which in turn save lives at sea.
Image Credits: Michael Gilbert's family album .