I have met a few authors mostly at book signings.Angela Carter was lovely, and encouraging to a would-be author. Jilly Cooper was very friendly and gave me a hug. Isaac Asimov gave me a kiss at a SciFi event. later I met his very pleasant wife and daughter who were visiting friends of mine. Ian Botham looked a bit lonely in WH Smith’s so I stopped for a chat, warm and friendly although I knew little of cricket and wasn’t buying his book.
Sally Phillips is a lovely person, as is Vicki Michelle. I won a competition to have lunch cooked by Nigel Slater, I was shy but still haven’t stopped telling everyone what a a treat it was. Very down to earth and, of course, a great cook.
During his recent one man show Sir Ian McKellen hurled a signed banana into the theatre and my lap! I had a nice chat with Paterson Joseph one quiet Sunday afternoon on Euston Station. Unfortunately having accosted him I had brain freeze and couldn’t recall what I had seen him in. My teen idols were Tommy Steele and Adam Faith, years later on different occasions I was in the same room but didn’t have the courage to speak to either. I also didn’t go to a gig with Dave, Dee, Dozie etc. when they very courteously invited me along. Lost opportunities!
I have no memory of a man who admired my eyes on Weston-super-Mare promenade 60 years ago, I was only a few months old, he was His Excellency Haile Selassie.