Tributes have been paid to Hull’s larger-than-life entertainer Roy “Wendy” Gibson, who died yesterday.
Flamboyant showman Roy was well known for his appearances at local pubs and clubs in the past but even more so for entertaining the troops aboard MV Norland when the North Sea passenger ferry was requisitioned to transport 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, to the Falklands.
The performer was playing at the Oak Vaults, in Scott Street, Hull, only last Sunday, just three days before his sad passing, aged 67.
The pub acknowledged the news on Facebook, saying: “It is with great sadness we report the passing of Hull's own Liberace, Roy Wendy Gibson. Roy was so well loved and royally entertained us at OV just last Sunday. RIP my friend.”
Pub owner Paul Bartle said it had been Roy’s first pub performance for about 15 years.
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“We were planning a reopening on a very limited scale for the bank holiday weekend and we suggested to Roy that he come in on Sunday and play for us,” said Paul.
“In recent times he had withdrawn from all his friends; Roy lost his twin brother, Charlie, a well-known rugby player, who got cancer and died really fast. Roy was struggling with that when he lost his stepmum, Beryl, who died suddenly, and he also had a cancer scare of his own, but luckily was okay.
“It was during all that bereavement that he withdrew from all his friends.”
Paul said he knew some of the “old crowd” would be at the Oak Vaults and that he thought it would be a good idea to get Roy out performing again.
“He hadn’t played the pubs for 15 to 20 years, I should think, he’d performed for the Minster and for the Lord Mayor at the Guildhall, and he was really excited to be playing again.
“He looked a million dollars, he was always the most dapper man in Hull. People were coming up and tapping him on the shoulder, pleased to see him.
“He took the piano to pieces, all the panels came off so he could get more volume out of it. He played from 4pm to 8.30pm – he couldn’t sing because of the restrictions, so there were no renditions of his Roll Out The Barrel – but when he left to get his taxi home, he said he would be definitely be playing again for a charity I support.
“He rang me when he got home half an hour later and he was buzzing. I said what had made me happiest was him re-establishing contact with everybody.
“It is so sad, he was a beautiful man and he was so loved.”
Friend of 45 years, fellow entertainer Bobby Mandrell, was at the Oak Vaults for what turned out to be Roy’s final performance.
“I still can’t believe it,” said Bobby. “I’ve heard Roy play many, many times in the past – I used to drive him to a lot of his gigs – but I think Sunday was the nicest I have heard him play, it was just unbelievable.
“He played a lot of the classic stuff and I thought, where’s the boogie-woogie Roy gone, and, you’ve mellowed with age.”
Bobby, who got Roy his job working on North Sea Ferries in the 1970s, said he had not seen him for a couple of years but they chatted, reminisced and hugged on Sunday.
“Roy gave me a beautiful picture of the Norland, a diamante brooch in the shape of musical notes and a card. I opened it when I got home and it just said, sorry. It took the wind out of my sails.”
Bobby said Roy had recently moved to Nafferton to be nearer family and was delighted to finally have a place with a garden.
“Roy had a heart attack in 2003 and he told me he was waiting for the results of some blood tests – he knew I had had treatment for prostate cancer and I said, don’t worry about it, I’m still here.
“Roy was always such a thoughtful person, he will be missed by so many people and not only in Hull, he was known all over the place.”
Another close friend of Roy’s, Peter White, said: “He was a good man and well known in Hull – he was just starting to play the piano again in the pubs.
“I just can’t believe Roy has passed away, all I can say is he was a good friend and always smiling and very kind and genuine. Roy didn't have much but would give you his last pound if you needed it.”
Another long-time acquaintance Chris Norfolk said he felt Roy had had a “wonderful” life.
“I’ve always known Roy from growing up,” said Chris, who used to be in band and now helps other up-and-coming artists. “I think he was the first openly gay man anybody came across.
“He would play in the roughest pubs and people would love him – if there was a piano in the corner he’d be on it all night.
“He was very, very flamboyant and always immaculately dressed, and he was always a diva.
“The last time I met Roy was at one of the Rainbow Balls for the Lord Mayor and he insisted they got the grand piano out and put it in the centre of the floor. He wanted candelabras and everything.
“When it came to his part, he refused to play because the piano was out of tune, but when he saw what a good time everyone was having, he was persuaded to go on and he went down a storm.
“You just loved Roy, he was one of, if not the nicest man you could meet.”
Roy’s father, also Roy Gibson, said he found his son in bed at home after knocking and getting no answer.
“He was a wonderful son and unfortunately the second I’ve lost,” he said. “I saw him most days but when I called yesterday I couldn’t get him to answer.”
When Mr Gibson got into his son’s bungalow, he said: “He looked so peaceful, it seems as though he had fallen asleep and didn’t wake up again. It’s such a shock.
“He would do anything for anyone, he was such a nice bloke.”
Roy’s sister Jeanette Hyam said arrangements were still to be made for her brother’s funeral but that it would take place in Hull.
“It appears he’d not felt well the night before he was found, but we don’t know what with,” she said. “His blood tests were routine following his earlier cancer scare.
“He supported so many causes, he made thousands for charities over the years, including the RNLI and Dove House,” she said.
Ship steward Roy headed into the Falklands conflict in 1982, aged 27, performing his drag act aboard the Norland.
Recalling the time for a story in the Hull Daily Mail in April, 2013, he said: “The boys of 2 Para didn’t really know what to make of me at first. They were all big, strapping lads, but they soon warmed to me.
“I can honestly say I did not experience one bit of homophobia on that ship. We all got on because we were all in the same boat – literally. I remember 2 Para as being a really nice set of lads. We were like one big, happy family.”
Roy and other members of the crew volunteered for the dangerous voyage, which came under the direction of the Merchant Navy.
While the men of 2 Para test-fired weapons and wrote last letters home as they made the long journey across the South Atlantic, Roy played the piano and belted out songs with a Hull connection.
“I’d sing Old Faithful and Red, Red Robin for them,” he said. “Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. My passport was my piano.”
