Came across the grave of Spike Milligan in Winchelsea, quite by accident and found out his famous "I told you I was ill" epitaph is actually written in Irish (something to do with overcoming objections from somebody or other).
Spike Milligan was actually the holder of an Irish passport. Being born in India, he had to obtain British nationality, but refuse to take an oath of allegiance. As his father was Irish, he had no difficulty in obtaining Irish citizenship. The Irish government to this day will grant a passport to anyone who can show that their grandfather was a citizen of the Isaland of Ireland.
It was the Diocese of Chichester that didn't want the famous epitath in its graveyard, wanting to avoid setting a precedent of jokey remarks on gravestones.. Writing it in Irish was a compromise that the diocese was okay with. I'm sure it appears in one of his books, but I'm not certain which. Probably
Puckoon.
