A RETIRED comedian has revealed he was a target of bullying and was kicked out of home when his mother discovered he was gay.

Lee Tracey, 78, who lives in Brighton, has published a book entitled What Will The Neighbours Say! in which he recounts how he had suffered homophobia and being ostracised in his youth.

The comedian, who had performed for the Adult Panto in Brighton, said: “I was in a documentary called 50 Years Legal last year which talked about the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

“Someone suggested I should write a book about my life.

“I’ve suffered bullying. When I was a kid, it was a very different time.

“I often heard stories of men being prosecuted because they were gay. We lived in a twilight world. A lot were scared to death to come out because they would be vilified and ostracised.

“When I was at secondary school, my friends often got together to talk about their conquests.

“I had no problem attracting girls, but I wasn’t interested in them and I didn’t know why.

“All I knew was every time I looked at guys I get a different feeling.

“But I still lied to my friends that I had no problem with girls because they might think I was strange.”

Lee thought he could hide his identity, but his mother discovered his true sexuality when she found a love letter he had written to a boy.

He said: “When I was 16 I was writing love letters to a boy but I never sent them.

“It was a way for me to express myself. My mother found the letters in my pocket and kicked me out of the house.”

Lee had lived a tough life in his early years. However, to cope with the harsh reality, he turned to humour.

He said: “I tried to find a funny side to things, it’s how I dealt with everything. I also found solace when I sang. So I joined a jazz club.

“So I decided to be a comedian, to make people laugh and be happy.

“No one thought I would ever become a performer because I used to stutter. But it would disappear when I sang.

“It gets really bad when I was nervous or scared.

“Writing this book has helped lift the weight off of my shoulders.”

Lee Tracey was born in Hackney in 1940 at the Salvation Army Hospital and he was christened Richard Greene.

After he was kicked out of home, he travelled around and lived in lodge homes.

He said: “I lived in Cornwall and was in a relationship but later he died in a car crash. “I then lived in Plymouth and when I was 22 I joined the army in Bristol.

“I kept my sexuality to myself. I thought if I did tough, physical activities it would make me a man.

“But I couldn’t hack the training, the padre told me to grow up. I eventually left the army.”