Air Traffic Controller after dinner speech

[@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!

[@lord_scrubington]

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

[@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 😊

[@corpsdiplomatique_NL_CD-42-42]

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

[@MavericAvi8or]

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

[@MattDunny]

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.

[@ingeniousbraveheart]

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

[@grahameparkhouse8085]

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT have been looking for this for ages

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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..

[@aliholgate9442]

I have no idea how i ended up here, but I'm SO glad that I did. This is one of the funniest after dinner speeches I've heard....and believe me when I say I've heard quite a few due to work. This guy's delivery and timing are superb, I laughed myself silly. Great stuff, thank you for posting. I love coming across gems like these, previously unknown to me but which subsequently become favourites & I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[@twan1945]

You're welcome Ali! I'm so glad you liked it - I've had this tape for years and years and can listen to it again and again and it's hilarious every single time! The first time I heard it was at my dentist's office as background 'music' - needless to say he couldn't get any work done that day :-)

[@handyvickers]

You're not the only one, Ali... Same with me, I stumbled upon it, and I laughed out loud... Even my teenage son enjoyed it. Not exactly PC, but that's part of its charm, I think... Everyone takes themselves far too seriously these days! 😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@aliholgate9442]

@@handyvickers couldn't agree more!

[@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. 😅😅

[@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!

[@johnrob6132]

Thank you so much for making this available. I have just found this and it`s the best 48 minutes listening I have had. Didn`t stop laughing the whole time. This man is brilliant in his presentation, and is in the same class as the wonderful Bob Newhart.

[@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.

[@leebromley4736]

Thank you for posting this. I last heard this on an old cassette tape about 40 years ago. Absolutely brilliant. I was surprised how much of it I remembered. Proper proper funny !

[@JC23WY]

Found a vinyl copy about a month ago in a local charity shop. Bought it immediately

[@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!

[@tectorama]

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

[@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

[@marcusott2973]

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

[@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.

[@pauldelcour]

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

[@busterwest1644]

Absolutely crying, The funniest thing Ive listened to in years

[@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"

[@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.

[@RichardHarding-c4e]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@Lifeaintfair007]

Well presented humour, very funny man

[@phylliselias]

Funniest thing I have heard in years. What a pity I didn't find this ages ago. Absolutely loved it.

[@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.

[@peterclarke3990]

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

[@Gavosh1977]

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

[@IainNicholson]

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

[@alisonmacdonald1130]

Fabulous. Loved the bit about hiding airfields with hoardings.

[@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.

[@Woodgate425]

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

[@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😊😊

[@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😉

[@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".

[@CarolSawbridge]

Never get bored with hearing this. Brilliant raconteur.

[@paulspalace]

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

[@grahamlea3706]

I have had this on tape for years also have it on CD, also have on my phone and iPod. I still love listening to it and always kill myself laughing. A brilliant after-dinner speach!😂😂😂

[@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.

[@beefabob]

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

[@GuyChapman]

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

[@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!

[@dallasreid7755]

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

[@stephenuden6403]

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

[@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. 😂

[@S_vanna]

I have this on cassette - haven't heard it for years, still hilarious 😀

[@KEITHGEE1000]

Just found this again after all theses years! Many thanks.

[@supercat380]

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

[@tonylewin6703]

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

[@davesmyth5667]

My dad had this on cassette tape many years ago, so it's great to hear it again. He flew for the RAF (Hercs mainly), and this brings it all back. Brilliant, thank you!

[@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.'

[@captbumbler5356]

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

[@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

[@strudders2112]

I have not heard this for years! Thanks for posting.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Thank you for posting - I have this somewhere on cassette, given to me by a lovely WW2 RAF veteran who'd seen David perform live at an after dinner speech.

[@BobrahamCDavies]

I heard this on tape when I was a young man. I thought of it today and was pleased to find that you had posted it. Cheers mate.

[@BrensRCracing]

Same here...on the other side of my tape was Bill hicks

[@rachel14003]

@@BrensRCracing My dad also had the cassette - really brings back memories hearing this :)

[@pacman222]

David Gunson - absolutely brilliant. Tears down your face funny.😂

[@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

[@johnbrown3951]

I also heard this many years ago and it was really good then as it is now. Thanks for the upload.

[@JaneHughes-gx1pl]

What a joy this was to listen to. Pure genius 😊

[@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.😂😂😂😂😂

[@grahvis]

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

[@roberthardy2013]

David was one of the great raconteurs! Heard this many many years ago, it’s a bit dated now but still extremely funny!!!

[@simonbertioli4696]

Brilliant..,and so funny...loved it.. My father would be on the floor laughing 🤣 He was ex aircraft... technician

[@islandhopperstuart]

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

[@iankemp1131]

First heard this on a long-distance coach trip (Oxfordshire to Rome!) in 1994, and went straight out and bought the cassette. Haven't heard it for years, so it's great to hear it again! As noted by others, David Gunson "What goes up might come down".

[@musoseven8218]

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

[@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.

[@RangieNZ]

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

[@markblundell9461]

Fabulous! This is quite an old piece obviously. But we’ll worth listening too. Absolutely hilarious.😅

[@alkohl4383]

I had it on tape in the 80's but lost it..! happy to be able to listen to it again..many thanks !

[@twan1945]

That's the way it went with me, but then I found my tape and I decided to record it this way. I'm glad you like it - and wish you many hours of fun when you listen to it again and again - like I do! :-)

[@Donkey3773]

The same with me. Heard him at a school reunion one year. Fantastic event

[@Alienalloy]

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

[@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.

[@suetaylor6623]

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

[@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.

[@cliffordparry2862]

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

[@johnroyce8355]

We used to listen to this in our band van on way home from bookings. Until we got a van with a CD player, I must transfer this to a CD. (if not classed as piracy) Hilarious in the highest order.

[@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.

[@spunkymonkie]

I’ve listened to this many times over the years, and it still makes me cry with laughter, love it 👍😂😂😂

[@susanbarker2525]

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

[@davidnunan1819]

I'm amazed at how many people had this on tape. I was given a copy from a friend about 30 years ago who worked in the BBC and was warned to be careful who I lend it to as there was a strict copyright issue surrounding it. I lent my copy to my uncle who was a senior officer in the Irish Army Air Corps but unfortunately never got the cassette back. If there was a copyright issue there was clearly hundreds of bootlegged copies of it around the world anyway! I am so glad I came across it again here as I thought I would never hear it again. It's excellently written by him. Appeals to pilots and other aviation professionals and ordinary Joe Soaps in equal mesure. Thanks twan1945 for putting it up here.

[@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.

[@ScrotusXL]

Never heard this before. The military Concorde bit is hilarious

[@dalli2]

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

[@seeingthepattern]

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

[@kenstevens5156]

First time I`ve heard this ,so funny , tears of laughter .Brilliant

[@rossmansell5877]

Ha! - Bunny...worked with him at Birmingham,,..he in the Tower me down in Flight Briefing...ex services pilot ..him up there..me down here 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@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.

[@nickcastings1568]

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

[@ann9793]

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

[@jillb71]

My cousins lent us this on cassette sometime in the 80s I think. Our whole family fell about laughing, I have always remembered bits of it and am thrilled it still exists.

[@johngodden5196]

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

[@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 😆