Air Traffic Controller after dinner speech

I have had this file for many years, but don't know who holds the speech, nor what the background is of the group he is addressing.
I have been told he is not a professional 'comic'.
However, this is an excellent example of typical British humour, and I do hope you will enjoy it as much as I have - time and time again!

[@stevemoore2576]

Oh Crikey, its years since I heard this. I used to work in airports in New Zealand more than forty years ago and it was brilliant then, and it still is now. Such fabulous British humour. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@ingeniousbraveheart]

That is what life is all about folks like that Guy are worth there weight in gold

[@lord_scrubington]

"Consequently, the government know where 80% of the airfields are" absolutely genius XD

[@andrewdyton580]

I think this is one of the funniest videos ive watched, someone should send this to kelsey at 74 gear. 😂.

[@bumblerbumble9843]

"The steward banging his handbag on the door." Priceless comment.

[@MarkPentler]

It's certainly some kind of comment. "Of it's time" being the kind. The rest of this is so magnificent but that stood out

[@DanielsPolitics1]

@@MarkPentlerSadly there are a few. Just a handful of sentences mean I can’t really share this with anyone.

[@peterclarke3990]

Remember listening to this many many years ago! I laughed then, and I’m laughing now! What a hoot!

[@susanbarker2525]

Used to have this on cassette and loved to listen to in car

[@corpsdiplomatique_NL_CD-42-42]

the douglas adams of ATC ... pure gold, .. awsome, .. thankyou !!!!!

[@grahameparkhouse8085]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT have been looking for this for ages

[@captbumbler5356]

while listening to this I ended up snorting beer down my nose

[@MavericAvi8or]

Omg! This is David Gunson! I own a vinyl copy of this speech. It’s absolutely hilarious 😂😂😂😂

[@dongilham1892]

This was an after dinner speech made by "Bunny" Gunson, a controller at - as he says - Birmingham Airport. Not only a very funny man, but a very nice man too.

[@jframpton973]

Having worked with Bunny in Air Traffic at Birmingham Airport, he was at his funniest when things went a little awry! His was the watch everyone wanted to be on, a guaranteed laugh a minute but at the same time a damn good Air Traffic Controller.

[@busterwest1644]

Absolutely crying, The funniest thing Ive listened to in years

[@mahe-2268]

David Gunson. What a son of a gun.

[@user-jh3fh5ni7b]

Me too Big Ben Records 111 I seem to remember in 1981/82.

[@PetrolPed]

Its a guy called David Gunson. An ex pilot and author. My father had this in vinyl when I was a kid. One of our favourites.

[@user-bp5gz6ir2w]

I was working in the tower at Birmingham Airport when “Bunny was in the control tower” one day he decided to have a bit of fun with the guy who was mowing the grass between the taxiways. He called him up on the radio and said that there was something wrong with the light on the roof of his tractor, he said “It keeps going on and off, at very regular intervals, he said there it goes again, on and off, on and off. The driver became very concerned, and said he would return to base to get it fixed, and dutifully returned to the vehicle maintenance bay where they informed him that it was designed to flash on and off because it was a flashing beacon. All of the controllers in the tower were in fits about it.

[@johners51]

“We don’t mess about with 10%”

[@dallasreid7755]

Heard a truncated version of this on Cathay about 35 years ago. Loved to hear the full version.

[@svminuet]

gold dust! I'm a pilot since the 80s mmm ok a bit old now but we loved him then and it's wonderful to hear his Brum accent again... I once flew a bit too close to Brum X in the late 80s and they kindly advised me to 'head towards Wales! ' .. I survived and learned a bit!

[@suetaylor6623]

The speaker is DAVID GUNSON. A former air traffic controller at Birmingham Airport. Absolutely brilliant. 😂

[@grahvis]

I heard this many years ago but have never forgotten it.

[@ronaldpainting5614]

I met David Gunson a number of times as a student pilot at Birmingham airport in the 70s. Loved going to the annual dinner dance and aching due to laughter bought on by David.

[@yorkiemalone8727]

One word BRILLLLLLLLLLLLLLIANT

[@marcusott2973]

My favourite uncle had this as a tape in his car, great trips with him laughing ourselves silly.

[@martindehavilland-fox3175]

It's been over 30 years since I've heard this... And still my sides ached with laughter. Pure genius! Now I've found it again, it's definitely one for the favourites list 😊

[@markshepherdmusic]

This was recorded for LP in the 70s at a meeting of Solihull Rotary club. I can hear my dad laughing :)

[@garrywilding6077]

That is absolutely priceless your dad`s in the crowd , have always loved this lunchtime speech, being a private pilot in Australia, Love it every time I hear it !

[@chrismadscots2772]

I'm sure my Uncle Ridgeway was there from Orkney as he worked for BA at the time at Kirkwall airport :)

[@petertaylor3600]

I can hear ME laughing even now! What a marvellous thing to have him as a friend. Oh, Bunny!!

[@petertaylor3600]

I just fell over this while surfing the Internet looking for something good. I found it.

[@billspence1799]

I heard this first on a borrowed cassette en route to a Rotary meeting. We so enjoyed it we sat in the car till the end before going back into the house. Switched on TV for news ,,,,,, there's been a crash at Lockerbie,,,,, and stopped laughing.

[@robertdoughty]

David Gunson "What goes up might come down". We had this on tape when I was a kid and we'd listen to it in the car on long journeys. It never gets old!

[@stevekelly5166]

I've got it on tape too somewhere. Not heard it for over 30 years!

[@stephanrichardson4982]

I have this on both LP and CD

[@Chafflives]

Reminded me of a joke I heard about a British airline pilot who was approaching Frankfurt airport. A rather testy controller directed him to a runway. The pilot asked for clarification and the controller said, ‘What’s the problem. Have you never been here before?’ The pilot replied, ‘Yes, but it was dark and I didn’t stop.’

[@iainjones5002]

There's a variation of that joke where the BA Pilot replies, Last time I was here, we were dropping bombs and we weren't hanging around in all the flak!" OR in real life once at Heathrow Airport, when an Air Traffic Controller friend of mine recounted the following conversation between a BA Captain and a Lufthansa Captain as they were queuing along the runway waiting for take off. The BA Captain: " Hang on, we were in the queue first, How come that Lufthansa Captain has jumped the queue and got in before all of us waiting in line? Lufthansa Captain: "Very simple, When we landed, we laid our beach-towels on the runway to reserve our place!" Cue roars of laughter from other pilots and air traffic controllers over the airwaves as the BA was left spluttering his annoyance, but could do nothing!

[@robinlikes2learn]

When my Mom lived in Australia she went out with a German and at dinner I asked him if he had ever been to England. He paused for quite a while and then said, 'Not since I bombed Rugby during the war.'

[@Gavosh1977]

What goes up must come down - I forgot about this .....thank you for uploading

[@Alienalloy]

I used to listen this as a kid 30 plus years ago, happy memory’s

[@islandhopperstuart]

His joke about the military version of Concorde is an absolute classic.

[@cazfreeman]

I have met him. He is David Gunson who was an air traffic controller at Birmingham

[@alisonmacdonald1130]

Fabulous. Loved the bit about hiding airfields with hoardings.

[@nickcastings1568]

The Tenerife joke was a bit below the belt, but I still laughed!

[@robwilton8001]

David Gunson - ‘What Goes Up Might Come Down’ funniest after dinner speech ever… Heard on record originally.

[@wyntingley]

David Gunson, is a Former Air Traffic Controller and After-Dinner Speaker. Born in Yorkshire, Gunson started his working life in a Sheffield steel mill and later joined the Royal Air Force, where he flew Shackletons in Coastal Command for twelve years. David’s love of flying continued into his civilian life where he became an Air Traffic Controller at Birmingham Airport.

[@dshack4689]

Epic! Funnier throughout the entire 48 minutes than most modern comedians, and the jokes are right on the money if you're in aviation. Love it!

[@Sgt_Bill_T_Co]

The frosted glass in the toilets is merely to stop passengers who are not in a window seat from 'hogging' the toilet. - but yes, very amusing, I'll send a link to an ATC I know of.

[@photowalk.podcast]

Agree, I first heard this a good 30 years ago, like some here - and I still remember large elements even now. LOVE it... AND I have the 12" record of this speech too!

[@dshack4689]

@@photowalk.podcastoh wow, the RECORD?! would love to know what that label/album cover looks like!

[@IainNicholson]

I haven't heard this for years. Got a CD of this somewhere. Brilliant

[@tintriangledriver210]

If you think this is great, imagine what it was like working with him. I had that privilege when I spent time at EGBB, when I validated as a controller. Great guy and never a dull moment.

[@1969Kismet]

What's his name, please? I haven't laughed so hard in a while.

[@pistonbroke0461]

​@@1969KismetDave Gunson

[@francisbyatt1755]

Known to his colleagues as ‘Bunny’ Gunson.

[@johnoconnor7402]

Excellent......😂

[@jonvendy5098]

😮, F😊😊

[@user-qj7wn6zq7q]

40 odd years ago for me too. My dad had it on an LP. What a joy to hear this again. Thankyou.

[@johngodden5196]

I too have had this for sometime and srill enjoy it.

[@tectorama]

Like many others I first heard this about 40yrs ago on a cassette tape. Brilliant.

[@ScrotusXL]

Never heard this before. The military Concorde bit is hilarious

[@JoePinball2006]

Hi name was David Gunson. My Dad who was an ATC loved his stuff! he had this record with the entire after-dinner speech on it.

[@csjrogerson2377]

I first heard that speech on an audio cassette tape played in a car in 1984, en route to RN Fleet HQ at Northwood. The funniest ex Crab Officer ever. Never heard it since and it's still hilarious.

[@cliffordparry2862]

Saw this bloke at a Senior Officer's Dinner in Manchester in the Eighties, same speech and brilliant.

[@RangieNZ]

I still have this on audio cassette. I listened many times as a kid.

[@warringtonminge4167]

Colleague of mine asked if I had earphones handy, tossed me over his iPlayer with David Gunson on and i was absolutely helplessly crippled with laughter over my desk for 3/4 of an hour. Fortunately the colleague was my boss who signed my timesheet that week😉

[@sailinghooponopono2457]

I bought a audio cassette from the man himself at Birmingham airport on a lay over in 1989. He was still working in the tower.

[@nickb3078]

I first heard this at a Sales Conference Dinner back in the 90's. A real hard bitten cynical lot of computer salesmen we were too. We were used to being entertained by the likes of Bob Monkhouse so no one had heard of this guy. He held us spell bound and near hysterical. This was the best after dinner talk I have ever heard.

[@MikeyTruran]

I organised the entertainment for those conferences. One of my colleagues told me about this guy and I thought it would be different. He was brilliant, well received by everyone there.

[@tridentpc1466]

40 years ago i heard this

[@marksaunders6166]

His name is/was David Gunson. I have a cassette tape of his speeches somewhere. Very entertaining guy. Wish I'd seen him in person. PS Sorry, just seen everybody else's comments 🤦‍♂️, couldn't see any posts until I did mine 😆

[@unclestephen2722]

A long way in I recognised something, a memory from long ago. I realised that my Dad had got hold of this around 1982 and we'd listened to it. Exactly the sort of thing he loved. Amazing to rediscover it here. . . . Just looked it up, dates from march 81.

[@christopherlloyd4908]

ditto, exactly

[@jasonstone111]

Same

[@colins2]

I first heard it in the early 80s too.

[@JACB006]

This is David Gunson giving his speech he called “What goes up might come down”.

[@beefabob]

The best 48 minutes I've ever spent on KZbin. Outstandly funny!

[@MrRobbo1968]

Heard this many years ago on a cassette, laughed then still laughing at it now, brilliant speech, so glad its back

[@templestark4779]

Me too! I didn't know who it was. My family is in aviation insurance and lived in England so... Now looking in comments to see who it is.

[@ianclarke9434]

I think it was called "what goes up might come down "

[@Yeoman85]

I think his name is Dave Gunson

[@stephenstewart4863]

​@@Yeoman85it was Dave Gunson

[@buffalomerkis7603]

I had the cassette too, I think it had a picture of the Eiffel Tower on the front..

[@Rocky-fv9ey]

@MrRobbo1968 I had this too on cassette a looooong time ago, and being the daughter and wife of pilots, and an ex RAF Ground Officer myself, having done some ATC I was delighted too to find it today on KZbin. I love the reference to West Drayton!

[@iainjones5002]

A superb return to hearing this again! I'd a career in Hotel Management spread over 30+ years and I had the privilege of hearing David Gunson conduct this After Dinner Speech, not once, but twice in Hotels I was working in. Sheer brilliance and on each occasion, he earned himself a standing ovation. I have it on tape somewhere too!

[@rosscookson]

Was his recording called ‘what goes up, might come down’?, I had a copy back in the 80s.

[@daveblake9804]

Nice to hear it again

[@paulstubbs4487]

I had this on cassette too but lent it to someone and never got it back. Nice find, thanks for posting. David Gunson ATC. I always remember the bits about Concorde. Hilarious and a great dead pan delivery. 😅😅

[@artyonehundred]

The talk is "What goes up, might come down" by David Gunson. A quick search (in August 2023) shows it on Amazon and Spotify (even another slightly more official KZbin recording!) and no doubt other outlets. British understatement and irony at its finest. I'm still looking for the gloves with an "L" on one and an "R" on the other!

[@tonylewin6703]

Only found this recently, and.i have listened to it loads of times and laugh more each time,what a man.

[@gordonmcmurray5948]

Absolutely hilarious ! Many memories! Started much as he did courtesy of the Monarchy in 1957 when we were advised to clear out of controlled air space asap, if we knew what was good for us, to get on with being taught to fly 'properly' by instructors ,many of whom had survived the second world war and /or Korea. Went on to operate in photo reconnaissance and partaking in the cold sort via V force when the operating altitudes were,initially, considerably above civil reqirements. (I do recall on heading westward to the USA, encountering Concord some thousan or three above heading home to Europe. Stunning sight! G B N McM

[@user-bb1go4fk5h]

Never get bored with hearing this. Brilliant raconteur.

[@anthonylong1487]

He is talking to Round Table meeting in Solihull.

[@paulspalace]

Mate of mine had it on cassette, used to play stuff at lunch time, goons shows etc. love this.

[@Prostar369]

I understand his fee for after dinner speaking is £6,000 but that was some years ago, in my opinion he is well worth the money.....brilliant!

[@xxwookey]

The gordonpoole speaker-booking site says he is in the 'under £3000' category. I'm impressed if he is still going as this was released in 1982, and he must have been at least 30 then. I wonder if he's still giving the same talk!

[@miltonfreeway1529]

He’s certainly not working now. I was at school with his son in the late 80’s / early 90’s.

[@tomhermens7698]

@prostar369 Bankers paid at their annual dinner.

[@TIP231-ep3cm]

Thank you for sharing this. I had this on cassette and I believe it was called "What Goes Up, Might Come Down". Absolutely Brilliant

[@benjamr68]

It's David Gunson. The speech was called "What goes up might come down".

[@tonyblaney4759]

Wow long time since I heard David Gunson speaking, great memory.

[@BillMahoney-vf7tc]

The speaker is David Gunson, an ATCO at Birmingham Airport. His boss lived directly opposite me here in the Midlands. David was speaking to a Bankers after dinner. He has the humoour of a typical ex-Serviceman. Brilliant.

[@michaelpage2151]

a good after dinner speech is the best entertainment in the world. had a good meal, few drinks and a speaker like this man...heaven. wish i could have been there. bravo sir and thank you.

[@UKWookie]

David Gunson, a very nice man. I was a regular plane spotter at Birmingham (Elmdon) Airport in my early teens, there most weekends. My parents bought me "What Goes Up Might Come Down" on vinyl in 81 or 82. I took the LP with me to the airport a few times and one day managed to get one of the security staff to take it up to the tower and David autographed it for me. I met him a couple of times after that. Unfortunately my LP got lost when my parents sold a load of their vinyl. I have subsequently managed to get hold of a copy on CD, which I still have.

[@seeingthepattern]

Had this on a cassette years ago - some bastard stole it. So happy to find it again!

[@nigelhill8811]

As a pilot of 50 years this was hilarious 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@timg3412]

David Gunson. What goes up, might come down....v funny!

[@stephenuden6403]

Happy memories of playing this driving down to Heathrow over 30 years ago. Pure class.

[@neilanyon4792]

David Gunson, superstar. First heard this in the air cadets' crewroom at RAF Linton-on--Ouse whilst on a gliding course in (I think) 1983. I have owned "What goes up might come down" on vinyl and cassete and I'm now looking for the CD.

[@pauldelcour]

Just brilliant! As good as British comedy gets. Thanks for posting this.

[@ann9793]

First heard this over 40 years ago, I have it on a cassette tape. It's as good now as it was then

[@paulevans6886]

Excellent. Never ages .....

[@natlib1]

From my memory he is giving an after dinner speech to a group of bankers in London. The gentleman that interrupts is a banker trying to get his pilots lisence.

[@supercat380]

Classic British humour at it's best... Love this!!

[@keithgrafton3067]

Heard this many years ago, and it is still brilliant listening glad I have found it again. It is indeed David Gunson "What goes up might come down"

[@66PHILB]

Marvellous stuff. My cassette copy is well worn. Whoever said there's no such thing as a stupid question needs to hear David Gunson. 😂

[@stuart8663]

Sheer GOLD!!!!

[@stephenoliver958]

I was in Round Table and heard him at a dinner we attended, he was dead pan never smiled once, we all agreed he was the best after dinner speaker we had heard and we had heard a good number over the years and enjoyed everyone, but he was unique.

[@stephenchurch9563]

very funny, pulling the 3 pin plug out made me laugh, anyone who remembers cathode ray tv tubes will understand that joke, thanks for posting

[@GuyChapman]

Love the detail. You bring the receipts, it’s what I like best.

[@colins2]

Excellent! I still have this speech somewhere but nice to see it on YT 🙂 I think it was called "What goes up, might come down".

[@davidsejan]

Absolutely delightful.

[@josephreed5155]

Thank you David Gunson

[@Woodgate425]

Absolutely brilliant. I remember hearing this when it was first released on cassette tape. Still as funny now as then 🤣🤣🤣,

[@dalli2]

Nice to find this again. First heard this in the mid 80s.

[@musoseven8218]

Fond memories, lots of fun, not heard this for probably 30 years, iirc, I saw him live once too👍😄😄

[@momeara7482]

Ah, the days of plane speaking!

[@craigpotts1214]

What goes up must come down. David Gunson

[@philgoodge-gm5vh]

I think he’s called David Gooderson. I too first heard this in the late 80’s. Even after all these years I still think of the “donk, donk, donk, donk when any flight I’m on takes off.😂😂😂😂😂