Post edited 10:33 pm – 28th November 09 by Graham

One of my interests is ventriloquism. I can't say it without moving my lips but I admire those who can.

I think probably the greatest of them all was Arthur Worsley, more of him another day, but the greatest living vent has to be Ray Alan. I had the pleasure of interviewing him a few years ago and what a charming and fascinating man he is.

I never knew that his most famous dummy, Lord Charles, was actually modelled on Stan Laurel. Ray worked with Laurel and Hardy early in his career and, having found the idea for his doll, decided eventually to model him on Stan.

Take off the monocle, put on a bowler hat and you'll soon see where it came from.

I knew that Ray was a mean ukelele player but didn't know that he was taught by the legendary George Formby.

I've just been indulging myself on You Tube and found this. Share with me the genius of Ray Alan. I believe he is not in the best of health at the moment, at 79, and is not working. We won't see his like again. See HERE