Barney Gilbraith

Barney started in Concert Party as a light comedian, singer and pianist. Later he went into the mainstream band business and immediately prior to World War II was very successful playing jazz on the accordion. He then volunteered with the quartet staying together and they all joined the Royal Air Force. They entertained the rank and file R.A.F. personnel from the south-coast to Oban in the Hebrides. They were also very popular with the commissioned ranks at Officers' Messes as they were in effect a top class night club band. In 1942 they were at an operational Spitfire base in the South of England where the filming of "the First of the Few" was taking place starring Leslie Howard and David Niven. When Barney saw how often young men, barely boys, would make requests for their favorites and then not return from ops he decided he wanted a more active participation in events. He applied for "remustering" as it was called and was offered cook or air gunner. He chose gunner. The rest of the band thought he had gone mad. In 1943-44 only 25 out of a hundred survived a tour of 30 ops. He did survive the tour but his crew got killed the first time they flew without him. Demobbed after the war he went back to the nightclub routine at Ciro's, 21, The Embassy etc., but in the early fifties decided to try choral work. His greatest talent in this was that he could sight read i.e. he could pick up a sheet of music and sing it. His earliest success was with Cyril Stapeton and the B.B.C. Showband. Among this group was David Croft who later enjoyed huge success as a scriptwriter. Another singer was a counter tenor called John McMarthy who also later became very successful leading his own singers. During the late fifties and early sixties Barney and John worked together a great deal and with Rita Williams, Charlie Young and Charles Granville formed the "Bandits". This group worked in television and radio with Billy Cotton. They also did numerous shows under varying names such as "The Barney Gilbraith Singers". Other shows which Barney appeared in were Tony Hancock, Arthur Haynes, Alfred Marks, Dickie Henderson, Morecombe and Wise, Sunday Night at the London Palladium,etc.. International stars he appeared with included Rosemary Clooney, Billy Eckstine, Cliff Richard, Frank Ifield and Tito Gobbi. He also had a number of appearances in bit parts as an actor, such as Dixon of Dock Green, No Hiding Place, Z Cars, Crossroads, Comedy Playhouse. A comfortable source of income was writing and playing in T.V. commercials for products like Brolac Paints, Drings Pork Sausages, Sarson's Vinegar, Kit Kat, Birdseye, Nescafe. With residuals being paid with every broadcast he sat at home and made a handsome living. On deciding to take up full time acting he did two years in repertory at Wimbledon Theatre where he played opposite Hylda Baker in "A Taste of Honey". This led to national tours in various productions including being the chairman in Old Time Music Hall with Wee Georgy Wood. His last appearance in a West-end show was in "On The Level" at the Saville Theatre which featured Shiela White, Gary Bond and Phyllida Law. His final incarnation was on the Cruise Ships where his musical talent really came to the fore but sadly, in the end proved too strenuous. He died when barely aged 60.