Lyall Compton Inkster
(1915-1995)
Fair haired and blue eyed Lyall Inkster was born in Grangemouth, Scotland, on May 20th 1915. His ancestors were Shetland Islanders who had descent not only from ancient Vikings but also from a Scottish King, James V.
Lyall, the youngest child of a large family, settled as a young man at the English seaside town of Dovercourt, there with the profession of a customs officer. |
Lyall, as the youngest child, was adored by his mother and one sister particularly, Kate, who did everything for him, even to the point of tying his shoelaces. He must have had so much cuteness appeal. His name was misspelled on his birth certificate as Lyell. He was named after his Aunt Lily who had emigrated to Canada, his middle name of Compton being her married name. His family chose such an obscure name for him in hope that he would be favoured in her will, as she was very well off, but upon her death her husband remarried and any chance of sharing her fortune was lost.
Lyall's parents, George and Margaret, had themselves emigrated, from the Shetland Isles to the Scottish mainland, there settling in the industrial town of Grangemouth, in Old Basin Street and there it was that Lyall was born.
Lyall's parents, George and Margaret, had themselves emigrated, from the Shetland Isles to the Scottish mainland, there settling in the industrial town of Grangemouth, in Old Basin Street and there it was that Lyall was born.
Lyall's schooling was at the Dundas School on Dundas Street, then Grangemouth High, besides which he went to the West Church and Sunday School. His family were very religious, following the Presbyterian form of Christianity. Such an environment to be raised in was not healthy as there were various factories polluting the environment, and one sister Kate would eventually suffer throat cancer. Lyall himself always had ear problems, apart from which he was a fit and athletic lad, who excelled in sports, particularly high jump and long jump.
Being a member of the YMCA, Lyall went away with them every year on summer camps. He won high jump medals and broke the Scottish YMCA high jump record at 5 ft 3 and a half.
Being a member of the YMCA, Lyall went away with them every year on summer camps. He won high jump medals and broke the Scottish YMCA high jump record at 5 ft 3 and a half.
While still young Lyall would raid apple orchards, so had his mischievous side, though was overall good and well performing in school. He preferred not to fight with the other boys, though one time had no choice in this as another lad had set on him outside school. And Lyall was no weakling and that boy came off worse. While giving the horrid boy a good bashing, the boy's mother turned up and grabbed hold of Lyall, but his brother distracted her by making faces and he got away.
Lyall was a talented singer and piano player, though at school was shy to reveal this. Singing at school was no joy as the teachers got the children to sing up and down the scales in turn, and though they saw he was a natural and wanted him to join the school choir he refused.
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Lyall left school at the age of 14, when he was in the 4th form. Unemployment was particularly bad then as it was the beginning of the 1930's slump. Fortunately for Lyall he was offered the chance of a job in a shipping company so took it and stayed with them for five years.
Shetland Island relatives would knit clothes for Lyall and his brothers and sisters, this being a skilled tradition for the women there, and he particularly liked a six foot long scarf they had sent him. Lyall was cool in his long scarf and played an active part in helping to run the YMCA activities, starting up a wireless listening group and introducing into the billiards section regular tournaments.
It was in his activities with the YMCA and in sports that Lyall sometimes got a mention in the local papers.
1933 24th May Falkirk Herald
Athletic Successes
Grangemouth YMCA gained a signal success at their YMCA athletic championships held at Irvine on Saturday. From Grangemouth, L C Inkster was first in the high jump, under 18 years of age, with a jump of 5 feet 1 inch. In the broad jump in the same class Inkster was placed second.
Athletic Successes
Grangemouth YMCA gained a signal success at their YMCA athletic championships held at Irvine on Saturday. From Grangemouth, L C Inkster was first in the high jump, under 18 years of age, with a jump of 5 feet 1 inch. In the broad jump in the same class Inkster was placed second.
1934 Saturday 26th May Falkirk Herald
National Boys Weekend Camp
Under the auspices of the boys department of the Scottish YMCA National Council a weekend national conference weekend is to be held at Alloa from Friday evening until Sunday evening. Mr John Forrester Paton has very kindly given his grounds at Inglewood to accomodate the camp, and in such lovely surroundings those priviledged to attend should have a happy time. The conference at the camp will be 'The aim and spirit of the YMCA'. Delegations will be confined to boys between the ages of 15 and 18 years, as it is intended to make it a real youth gathering. Only a skeleton administrative staff of adults will be present. An interesting sports programme has been planned, and delegates are advised not to bring good clothes. This should appeal to the real boy. The local club will be represented by, among others, Lyall C Inkster. Boys have registered for the camp from all over Scotland.
National Boys Weekend Camp
Under the auspices of the boys department of the Scottish YMCA National Council a weekend national conference weekend is to be held at Alloa from Friday evening until Sunday evening. Mr John Forrester Paton has very kindly given his grounds at Inglewood to accomodate the camp, and in such lovely surroundings those priviledged to attend should have a happy time. The conference at the camp will be 'The aim and spirit of the YMCA'. Delegations will be confined to boys between the ages of 15 and 18 years, as it is intended to make it a real youth gathering. Only a skeleton administrative staff of adults will be present. An interesting sports programme has been planned, and delegates are advised not to bring good clothes. This should appeal to the real boy. The local club will be represented by, among others, Lyall C Inkster. Boys have registered for the camp from all over Scotland.
1934 Saturday 22nd September Falkirk Herald
YMCA Activities
The annual general meeting of the YMCA was held on Friday evening. The most widely read book for the year, it was encouraging to find, was one of a famous and brilliant present day writer, namely H G Wells, the book being 'The Invisible Man'. Mr L C Inkster had, in addition to a wireless listening group, done much to brighten up the billiards group, in which some tournaments had been held.
YMCA Activities
The annual general meeting of the YMCA was held on Friday evening. The most widely read book for the year, it was encouraging to find, was one of a famous and brilliant present day writer, namely H G Wells, the book being 'The Invisible Man'. Mr L C Inkster had, in addition to a wireless listening group, done much to brighten up the billiards group, in which some tournaments had been held.
In around 1935 Lyall's shipbroking firm recommended him to a Chartered Shipbrokers in London and as his brother Bill had already moved down to London Lyall jumped at the chance and went to join him. His parents soon followed him down to London along with his sister Kate and his mentally handicapped brother Laurence. They all lived together for a few years at 42 Dennington Park Road in Hampstead. Lyall worked in Bishopsgate for a year, then with the encouragement of his sister Kate, who always urged him to get on in life, he joined the Customs at the Pool of London, which was between Tower Bridge and London Bridge and in 1936 sat the Customs exams. After a year Lyall was transferred to the seaside town of Harwich and again his family followed him there so he found them an apartment.
Lyall was a water guard for the customs, and this required to him to go onto ships and seal up whatever they were not allowed to have. In his leisure time he played for the Customs football team and took part in other activities such as snooker, billiards, and bridge. He became close friends with Stan Nicholson, a fellow customs man, whom he lodged with in Cliff Road.
Lyall was a water guard for the customs, and this required to him to go onto ships and seal up whatever they were not allowed to have. In his leisure time he played for the Customs football team and took part in other activities such as snooker, billiards, and bridge. He became close friends with Stan Nicholson, a fellow customs man, whom he lodged with in Cliff Road.
At the age of 23 Lyall had severe ear problems and had to go into the Ipswich hospital for a mastoid operation. While in hospital he flirted with a student nurse, Doris Webster, and his following her about, chatting her up, got her into serious trouble so that she was moved to another ward. The seduction nevertheless worked and she became his first girlfriend. This was complicated by the fact that she was already engaged to another man, Roy Grimwood, who she went ahead and married.
Lyall was so broken hearted he could not eat at first, but then he dived into dancing lessons and it was at a dance, with an introduction from Stan and Marie Hill, the girl Stan liked, that Lyall met Isabelle Bane.
Lyall was so broken hearted he could not eat at first, but then he dived into dancing lessons and it was at a dance, with an introduction from Stan and Marie Hill, the girl Stan liked, that Lyall met Isabelle Bane.
Isabelle was a beautiful slim and tall young lady, three years younger than him, who not only was fine to look at but had a lovely nature. From this time Lyall began taking Isabelle ballroom dancing at the Blue Lagoon on the pier in Clacton, driving her there in his flash new car. The fine romancing between Lyall and Isabelle was interrupted by the outbreak of the second world war, for which Lyall was summonsed to pay his part. The romance simply had to continue by letter and during leave time which came up every three months. On one leave in March of 1941 they married, their war time wedding, and with war still raging Isabelle gave birth to their daughter Joanna. On another leave their next child, John, was conceived. Lyall sent so many poems of love to Isabelle during the war.
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In the beginning of the war Lyall was simply training, firstly at the Scots Guard Chelsea Barracks, then the Surrey Cap Depot and finally the 3rd Battalion Scots Guards. The training involved many physical exercise regimes and was a tough daily experience. It was while at Rose Park Chigwell on Buckhurst Hill that the decision was made to train Lyall with the Royal Signals for which he was sent to Yorkshire and there learnt morse and semaphore and then was put in Divisional Headquarters. Being fully trained he was now sent to the continent.
As a signaller Lyall didn't have to fight, but had to listen to the battles and send communications. Only once did he man a gun during the war and even then didn't have to use it. He was in some key areas in the war. At Falleys Gap at Falaise, where the British forces surrounded the Germans and captured Brussels, he was on communications, listening to the whole battle going on while in his vehicle, it being relayed from one headset to another. And he was in the Guards Armoured Division at Arnhem where the official plan was to cross the bridges over to Arnhem, where the Nijmegen Bridge was down but was recaptured. Lyall remained on the continent for seven days after D Day.
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Lyall's ear trouble returned for which he was evacuated and sent back to England where he stayed for 6 months in hospital, after which he was sent up to Royal Signals in Whitby until the Customs called him back. Lyall and Isabelle could now properly begin their married life together. They were so in love and romantic and totally all over each other. Isabelle revered Lyal and put him on a pedestal. The struggles and challenges of life, though, over time eroded the bond. Isabelle was not wired to cope well with setbacks and there were many, for which she had a nervous breakdown. Even then they stuck by one another and managed to have another son, Robert, but Isabelle was imagining situations and accused Lyall of many things and it wore him down. It all got so bad that they had to move in with Isabelle's sister, Connie. Connie, who already had a husband, son, and mother to take care of now took on caring for Lyall and his family too.
Lyall continued in his work as a customs officer which he enjoyed.
One time, he a man trying to smuggle cannabis who he took in for questioning, only for the man to grab the cannabis and put it in his mouth. When Lyall put his hand in the man's mouth to get it back he got badly bitten. The man successfully swallowed the cannabis, and it was such a large amount that he was then too ill to go to court, for which he had to have his stomach pumped out. Having done this one of Lyall's colleagues found an even bigger lump of cannabis in the man's bag.
One time, he a man trying to smuggle cannabis who he took in for questioning, only for the man to grab the cannabis and put it in his mouth. When Lyall put his hand in the man's mouth to get it back he got badly bitten. The man successfully swallowed the cannabis, and it was such a large amount that he was then too ill to go to court, for which he had to have his stomach pumped out. Having done this one of Lyall's colleagues found an even bigger lump of cannabis in the man's bag.
On another occasion, Lyall having found cannabis in an unaccompanied bag, he had to go all the way to Liverpool to attend the court case.
Sometimes Lyall found strange sex things in people's bags. After the war the troops smuggled back cameras and watches, and sometimes Lyall would let them off on the quiet. One time the American actress, Lana Turner, came along and he found a gun in her bag. Lyall always used his intuition and experience to pick out potential smugglers. |
Having not much more of any real relationship with Isabelle anymore who had let herself go, putting on lots of weight and refusing to ever leave the house, Lyall began thinking once more of Doris, the nurse who he'd once had a thing for. One day, being in Ipswich, he looked her up on the voters lists in the library. Even though she was married with a family, Doris agreed to meet Lyall in secret and this they did regularly. This was rather lucky for Lyall as Doris actually saved his life when he collapsed with a heart attack at a dance they were attending. Because of Doris's nurse training she knew exactly how to deal with it. When Lyall had a second heart attack, Doris was keen to nurse him back to health. They spent more time together, meeting at a caravan a park on the edge of Ipswich. His health was better with her fussing over him and they joined a bridge club as well as going dancing regularly. When Doris's husband died, Lyall got a divorce from Isabelle and married Doris. Isabelle didn't really understand what was going on and thought he would return to her, but in 1993 she died with no such thing having happened. A heart attack finally got Lyall two years later, in the year of 1995. Doris continued on for another 10 years.