Rank gong men

[Steve Crook]

When I was a kid I had a mate with the surname Wells, he swore along with his Grandmother whom he lived with that they were related.

Does anyone know if he had any relatives in Wales?

He was an Eastender - apart from the time he spent with the army in Rawlpindi

How many others banged the gong besides BBW?

See the list in the message above your one:

Carl Dane, "Bombardier" Billy Wells, Phil Nieman, and Ken Richmond



Steve

[Bendigo]

I thought I would try and play 'spot the gongman' this evening (as you do) but I only seem to have complicated matters...



The article claims that Carl Dane ran from 1932-1948 but I reckon I've spotted 'Bombardier' Billy Wells in 1941. I can't find any pictures of Dane to compare with the film intros but here's one of Billy Wells.







Now I reckon that's him banging the gong at the beginning of 'I Thank You' in 1941, bearing in mind that by then he'd be about 50, and the nose, jaw and hairline (minus the front bit) are quite similar.







By 1946 we have a different chap - now is this Carl Dane, Billy Wells if I was wrong about the previous one, or Phil Nieman? (Can't find any pics of Phil.)







In colour in 1954 but I can't tell whether this is another gongman or the same one as in 1946...







Judging by the picture used in/and his obituaries, by 1966 it's Ken Richmond.







Does anyone have a 30s gongman to compare with 1941 to see if it's the same man or not?

[CaptainWaggett]

A pedant writes -



This chap actually banged the gong - the others just mimed.

[Bendigo]

A pedant writes -



This chap actually banged the gong - the others just mimed.

My apologies to Mr Blades and pedants everywhere...