Noel Gay

Noel Gay was a Britsh composer, known for his work across popular music and the stage. Born Reginald Moxon Armitage, he also used the name Stanley Hill professionally. He was awarded a scholarship at the age of 15 to attend the Royal College of Music in London and become music director and organist at St. Anne's Church in London's Soho district just three years later. He then went on to study at Christ's College, Cambridge.

After leaving Cambridge, he began writing popular tunes for music hall and revues under the stage name Noel Gay. He reportedly adopted this name after seeing a poster advertising a new revue by Noel Coward and Maisie Gay. In 1937, he wrote the music (but not the lyrics) for the musical Me and My Girl. The show ran for 1,646 performances and the catchy "Lambeth Walk" became synonymous with the Pearly Kings and Queens of London. In 1984, Me and My Girl was successfully revived with a new book by Stephen Fry but keeping many of Gay's original songs. Gay also wrote two songs for the 1938 comedy film Save a Little Sunshine.