28
NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2006
ew e to
-
flT-TTJ k s-wwnan'fl
a
-
m e
--
a sc'-
Tributes paid to RN's legendary cartoonist
a
--
THE CARTOONIST who became a legend in the Royal Navy has died following a short illness-and tributes have been paid from across the Service
'r- -
a " '
.av°
to,
'r
''t_lSr
-:
-
:. -
-
a
'ONE AND A QUARTER LENGTHS - THEN TREAD WATER, CLOTH EARS!!'
D6'PGoAL 7'flø4Y7Z' Zkr
A COPfEE' AM' 1'Y MM
cV,C
7-;
VA1CU 1116-
Z
avt
0
THEY MUST HAVE SEWTALL7T1EESTONEc To 774E GUI-F
SAILOR.
Jackspeak
Navy has lost 'a genuine friend'
FIRST Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the death of Tugg Wilison meant that the Navy has lost "a genuine friend". "Throughout my 40 years in the Royal Navy, a period dominated by continual change, one of the few constants that I have clung to (as have thousands of others), has been the fact that no matter how complicated, or strategically significant the issue, the cartoons and incisive wit of Tugg have always managed to cut through the chaff and detail and home in on the impact and relevance to the individual sailor and marine," said the Admiral. "His cartoons have consistently ensured that the human elements of any matter have been brought fully to bear, opening the eyes of all in
the command chain to the impact on people of decisions taken across the Fleet. "The fact that Tugg's cartoons were as funny to those serving on the front line as they were to those in the support commands, the MOD, the civilians working alongside the Service and our families at home, was a mark of Tugg's skill; a skill honed through his own experiences at sea as an Air Engineering Officer. "In losing Tugg, the Navy has lost a genuine friend; however, he leaves us with a lasting legacy of his work which, when compiled, charts every major event in the RN's history over the past 40 years. "His insight, his loyalty to the Service, its men and women, and his unfailing humour, will all be sorely missed."
-It NA5 ,&owiw'A FaeE /2. WE WA ,°nZwaV AV/ ROU-i2V'
- /f,fcKc A1ViW9- 8, .i,5e5v A1/N"/A/So4b orFQ fl So' '/S4'-AV' WAvic avt:c %4't //tt/t
extracting a pertinent quote from a professional text and converting it to a witty and humorous cartoon that drove home the essence and message of the article. Modest and unassuming - he always claimed that he was not really a funny person - Tugg often appeared somewhat bewildered by his immense popularity, yet many Service publications owe their avid readership to his influence. Cockpit and Navy News were no exception - his wit and skill in the portrayal of flight safety issues and items of naval interest ensured full readership; indeed, it was often difficult to obtain a copy of the latest Cockpit when Tugg was drawing the pictures. The Cockpit calendar was particularly sought after and, from a flight safety perspective, earlier calendars are as fresh, funny and relevant as ever. Tugg also published cartoons in the Review of Naval Engineering, The Times, fbi/v Mirror, News of the World, Punch and regional newspapers. Tugg was one of a kind; he had a keen eve for jack humour and the skill to portray it with superb visual impact. 'Brilliant' is an understatement for his influence upon all involved in general naval matters and, particularly, in naval aviation - he drove home the message with panache, fun and excellent draughts) manship whilst making us laugh because 'cc could see ourselves in his drawings. He was a unique contributor to aviation and maritime safety. Survived by his wife Elizabeth and three sons, having now met his oft-. the portayed nemesis Grim Reaper, Tugg can he proud of his immense contribution to flight safety. Jackspeak author and retired RN medical officer Dr Rick jolly said: "The sad news that Tugg has recently 'crossed the bar' will have come as a shock to his many thousands of admirers around the world. "Wherever retired Royal Navy men and women were located, and wherever \'avy News was read, by Flag Officers and ratings alike, his Jock cartoon strip was usually the first item turned to - and enjoyed with a wry smile as, once again, Tugg hit the button with his sharply-observed, beautifully drafted and affectionate record of events in the life of the Royal Navy's greatest asset. "The details of Tugg's career in
3
oooh LOOK.' THERE'S A Cartoon from
Lt Cecil (Tugg - though known to his family as Bill) Willson MBE was born in 1930, and joined the RN in 1947 as a Naval Air Mechanic, writes Lt Cdr Roger Bevan (Reid). He achieved the rank of Petty Officer before being promoted to Sub Lieutenant (X)(AV) in 1964. Tugg served at Naval Air Stations, but also put in more than his fair share of sea time, all of it in carriers - HM Ships Ocean, Glory, Illustrious, Eagle (twice) and Victorious (twice) - before early retirement in 1971 to pursue a full-time career as a cartoonist, firstly from a studio in his home in Bere Alston and later, as his career developed, in the North East and, subsequently, in Wiltshire. Tugg developed his particular cartoon style during the mid1960s in HMS Victorious when he was persuaded to publish the ship's newspaper I/ic News. not a Although initially skilled draughtsman, he possessed a unique perspective of naval humour and, whilst it later encapsulated the broader range of human behaviour, his talent was especially slanted to, and appreciated by, the maritime community and was particularly well received by the Royal Navy, North Sea Oil, Merchant Marine organisations and house magazines. He had a special aptitude for
-
&1-57 pvteIr ge'scg,r
,waˆtfltiNE/ weAeiIY -
a
_-7' "ac'4S5S - IT n4ˆ s4ae
(
I
I
Yel
AiW
2