Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Desert Island Discs
Presented by Roy Plomley
Political cartoonist best known for his work for Punch and the Daily Mail.
Eight records
Imperial EchoesFavourite
Reason: Not explicitly given in transcript.
The keepsakes
The book
Not recorded.
The luxury
In conversation
Presenter asks
How old were you when you decided you wanted to be an artist?
Um six, I think. Might have been five or four.
Presenter asks
Had you any idea as a student that you'd take [to] black and white with?
Yes, of course. Uh it was my idea from the start. As soon as I was able to open my father's bound volumes of Punch. I was absolutely certain I was going to be the cartoonist for Punch.
Presenter asks
What was your first job?
Evening Express, football edition. I did some football cartoons. Th those were the actually first drawings I did for publication.
Presenter asks
How long did you stay with [the Western Mail]?
Eight years?
The recording
Timestamps play the recording from that turn
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island Discs. The presenter was Roy Plumley.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Yeah.
Presenter
mister Ellingworth, whereabouts in Wales were you born?
Presenter
In the Vale of Glamorgan, a little place called Juston. Um an agricultural area.
Presenter
Delightful, populated with wonderful people, all farmers, all very friendly.
Presenter
They all sang like angels. It was a delightful place to be born and brought up in.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
How old were you when you decided you wanted to be an artist?
Presenter
Um six, I think. Might have been five or four.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Oh isn't it?
Presenter
Where did you study? I studied first at the Cardiff School of Art and afterwards at the Royal College and afterwards I was at the Slade for a little time. Had you any idea as a student that you'd take
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Black and white with
Presenter
Yes, of course. Uh it was my idea from the start. As soon as
Presenter
I was able to open my father's bound volumes of Punch. I was absolutely certain I was going to be the cartoonist for Punch.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
That was your main ambition.
Presenter
Yes.
Presenter
It came later, though, after uh my father started taking the Daily Mail, that I'd rather liked being the cartoonist of the Daily Mail a little better.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Well you achieve both ambitions.
Presenter
Yes, I like it. I like it both.
Presenter
What was your first job? Evening Express, football edition. I did some football cartoons. Th those were the actually first drawings I did for publication.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Yes, and then the Western Mail.
Presenter
And then the Western Meadow. Political cartoon
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Mm-hmm. Western Mail.
Presenter
Uh
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Not carry curios the the the politicians. They do sketch them from life in in the press gallery in the House of Commons.
Presenter
Well, as much as I could, uh they were very kind and sent me up to the House of Commons, the Western Mail did, when I was very young.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Mm-hmm.
Presenter
They were good people. How long did you stay with them?
Presenter
Eight years?
Presenter
And then?
Presenter
Well, after that, um, I was earning so much from
Presenter
Uh the London uh illustrating market that we
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
That free license works.
Presenter
Freelance, yes. I stayed home in the country. Oh, I like it living in the country. I didn't even have to go to Cardiff and I very seldom came to London in those days.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Right.
Presenter
When did you contribute?
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Punch for the first time.
Presenter
I think it was nineteen twenty seven. I'm not certain.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Yeah.
Presenter
You've been in regular cracks.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
You've been a regular contributor ever since.
Presenter
Yes, oh yes, quite true.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Yeah.
Leslie Gilbert Illingworth
Ambition number one, realized.
Presenter asks
When did you contribute to Punch for the first time?
I think it was nineteen twenty seven. I'm not certain.
“They all sang like angels. It was a delightful place to be born and brought up in.”
“As soon as I was able to open my father's bound volumes of Punch. I was absolutely certain I was going to be the cartoonist for Punch.”
“I stayed home in the country. Oh, I like it living in the country. I didn't even have to go to Cardiff and I very seldom came to London in those days.”