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Another vacuous thread! Tenuous Claims to Fame

(700 Posts)
FannyCornforth Thu 19-Nov-20 14:23:18

The more tenuous and obscure the better!
My aunty went out with the bloke who designed * both*
A) the Cadbury's Chocolate Orange packaging, and
B) Buzby, the British Telecom mascot

Beat that Gransnetterssmile

avitorl Thu 19-Nov-20 19:36:34

I've just remembered that I met Hank Marvin one of The Shadows.It was a huge thing for me at the time and now I've almost forgotten !
Also I saw Anita Harris washing her hands at a local theatre but it was a long time after she was really famous.
Tony Blackburn was having lunch at a local Hotel at the same time as I was.
I've stayed at a Pub where Tony Blair took President Bush for lunch.

Callistemon Thu 19-Nov-20 19:38:12

I had a chat with Debbie McGee in a hotel foyer but just missed Paul Daniels as I was faffing around with my hair.

Bigred18 Thu 19-Nov-20 19:41:03

During my London flat sharing days in the 60s - one housemate was a model who had been engaged to George Best! When looking for a new place was 'interviewed' by a group of girls, including the Maxwell House coffee girl, now Mrs Michael Caine.

Auntieflo Thu 19-Nov-20 19:42:05

How tenuous is this?
It is said that my grandad, who was a shoemaker and cobbler, made ballet shoes for Anna Pavlova; who may have danced on the same stage as Rudolf Nureyev. ?

Lucca Thu 19-Nov-20 19:46:10

Hellogirl1

As a baby I was cuddled by George Formby, and in 1997 I was on Fifteen to One. My youngest daughter and myself were in the Strictly audience last year, but we couldn`t see ourselves on TV, duh!

My parents met George formby when on holiday, probably Bridlington, I always remember the photo in mums photo album

Chewbacca Thu 19-Nov-20 19:50:41

I attended the wedding of (Elsie Tanner) Pat Phoenix's neice.

Chewbacca Thu 19-Nov-20 19:53:15

I've met, and had dinner, with Patrick Moore 3 times.

bluebirdwsm Thu 19-Nov-20 19:55:43

When driving to Wales on the M4 we were overtaken by John Cleese in an open topped car. He pretended he didn't see us looking over at him. {But he had].

My sons were sworn at in a bar in Majorca when they were young boys and were looking at Brian Clough who was on another table.

I witnessed Paul Jones [Manfred Mann singer] spit in a girls face when she asked politely for his autograph. She was first in a queue outside the dressing room. I couldn't believe it.

MissAdventure Thu 19-Nov-20 19:57:10

I got chatting to a man a couple of years ago, who was Joe Pasquale's uncle.
He was very much like him too, even down to the voice.

Woodmouse Thu 19-Nov-20 20:02:12

1. Bobby Robson nearly ran me over! I was 11 or 12 years old and I ran across the road without looking. He had to make an emergency stop.

2. I worked for a gentleman whose grandfather taught Winston Churchill to ride a horse.

3. For a short while I worked for the company which invented and promoted Trivial Pursuit. I typed the instructions and rules!

I have loads more pathetic links/claims to fame but these are probably the most tenuous.

Callistemon Thu 19-Nov-20 20:03:41

Chewbacca

I've met, and had dinner, with Patrick Moore 3 times.

What - the Patrick Moore?!!

downtoearth Thu 19-Nov-20 20:04:01

My mum worked in a factory in the evenings with Bobby Moore's aunt

My dad played cards at work in his breaks with a relation if the Kray twins.

Chewbacca Thu 19-Nov-20 20:04:26

I've also met, and had dinner with the Eric Burgess who was the science adviser to Cubby Broccoli when he was making the Bond film, Moonraker.

Callistemon Thu 19-Nov-20 20:05:31

I think you're famous Chewbacca!

Chewbacca Thu 19-Nov-20 20:08:37

Yes Callistemon the Patrick Moore! I've still got the hand drawn Christmas cards that he sent to us! He was a talented artist as well as an astronomer. My exH was a friend of his and they attended several lectures on astronomy together and he attended Patrick's funeral in Selsey.

phoenix Thu 19-Nov-20 20:16:02

Does anyone remember the actor Patrick Gargill? He was in "Father Dear Father".

Well, he was an absolute arse and refused to give me a lift to the station!Many,many years ago when I was in my teens, I was staying with a gay friend after a party, he (the friend) had been given a job as dresser to Patrick, who came to collect him.

Friend said "Can we drop phoenix at the station?" ( it was about 2 minutes out of his way" Cargill looked down his rather large nose and said "No".

Might have been a different story if I'd been male!

Framilode Thu 19-Nov-20 20:17:54

My friend typed out the first draft of Captain Pugwash without realising the implications of Master Bates etc. It was first performed in her local theatre.

Urmstongran Thu 19-Nov-20 20:25:37

My friend sold her house to Rio Ferdinand.
I have chatted with David Beckham.
⚽️

MissAdventure Thu 19-Nov-20 20:36:32

Steve Davis' great aunt walked in on my ex while he was having a quick wash in the shared bathroom of a guest house.

M0nica Thu 19-Nov-20 20:48:09

I think all these links are tenous, most of the stories are about brushes with famous people, not about meeting them regularly.

I went to boarding school with someone who became famous later, but she was several years my junior and I had very little to do with her. She was a pain in the proverbial anyway.

phoenix Thu 19-Nov-20 20:59:51

Framilode

My friend typed out the first draft of Captain Pugwash without realising the implications of Master Bates etc. It was first performed in her local theatre.

That was an urban myth with regard to the animated television series, but could well be true for an adaptation for a local theatre production I suppose.

FannyCornforth Thu 19-Nov-20 21:00:28

M0nica are you going to tell us who you went to school with?

You've all reminded me of a few:
My husband built a wall for Brian Clough
I went to a fancy dress party in a house that once belonged to Steve Davis
WC Grace refused to give his autograph to my Grandfather

Lucca Thu 19-Nov-20 21:01:01

In a cafe in,Paris I saw Salvador Dali and I got his autograph. I still have it. Sadly no drawing attached
My great uncle was responsible for producing PLUTO, (pipeline under the ocean) during the war.

FannyCornforth Thu 19-Nov-20 21:01:58

phoenix
Agreed about Master Batey, Roger the Cabin Boy et al. Urban myth.

kittylester Thu 19-Nov-20 21:06:44

My brother in law played in a band with Manfred Mann

Engelbert Humperdink worked for my father's company but got sacked for singing rather than working. He now lives in the next village to our youngest daughter as does Serge whatsit from Kasabian. My dgs was at the same birthday party as his son.

DS2 worked for a brand agency and was in the same lift as Eddie the Eagle.

Paula Ratcliffe was at university in our town and ran past me - she created quite a draft.

DH was in partnership with the chap who was Seb Coe's dentist.

My brother has had a celebrity from Strictly in his swimming pool.

Ooh, I have almost met loads of famous people!!