I have just read your double-page spread on Spike Milligan (The Argus, March 14) and of course cannot dispute what Michael Thornton wrote.

However, I met and served in the Army with Spike in Italy from late in 1944 until we both were demobilised in 1946.

During that period we were musicians together in a big band that entertained the British and American forces - the war having ended in that country - and servicemen and women were serving out their time until returning home.

Spike and I were the only band members who had actually served in fighting regiments in North Africa and Italy and we had a bond that had us billeting together at Allied Forces HQ and when "on the road".

During the period mentioned Spike was suffering from manic depression and his emotions were volatile. This sometimes led to difficulties with "the brass" and at times he was suspended from the band.

On one of these occasions he decided to write his first Goon Show script which I typed for him on a battered Olivetti machine.

  • Len Prossor, formerly of the Brighton and Hove Herald Mill Valley, California