Famous people that you’ve met: What were they like?

I was a hairdresser many years ago in what was a large East Sussex salon. I did Judy Cornwall’s hair (actress and no nonsense lady), Katie Boyle (absolutely lovely lady), Gracie Fields (extremely nice lady), she actually sat under the hairdryer and sung to us one evening when most of the clients had gone home and there was just a few of us girls left, that was so lovely! I’ve also done Vera Lynns hair a few times, she was a lovely lovely lady. A couple of ‘Ladies’ that used to travel down from London for me to do their hair but I can’t remember their names now, yes it was fun looking back. The only one I refused to do and made one of the other girls do her hair was Shirley Bassey, as I didn’t know if the rumours about her being difficult were true.

I met Roger Bannister at a garden party about five years ago. He asked me if I could explain the rules off "Pointless" to him. He didn't understand why the aim of the quiz seemed to be to score less than other contestants. As a former competitive athlete it was an alien concept to him! He was in his 80s and suffering from Parkinson's disease but still very passionate about his academic interests of neurology and sports science.

I stepped on Mel Gibson’s foot as he climbed out of a canal barge, he apologised and praised the mountain range.

Met Stephane Grappelli, John Dankworth, George Melly.

Katherine Kent several times, a really lovely woman .

Clutching at straws here. I was at a horse event in the seventies in Germany. Princess Anne arrived in a land Rover. She was not on duty. She sat on the bonnet of her vehicle all afternoon watching the horses. She was very pretty with her blonde hair loose. No-one bothered her. I am not sure if she had any security with her.

My meetings with famous people are mostly so long ago that they are only coming back to me gradually. Just remembered Harold Wilson. My father knew him. When I spoke to him at a social event he said he had just had a letter from my father. I thought he was pretty clever to mention that, as he was Prime Minister at the time, and must have had hundreds of letters.

My husband was at university in Sydney with Germaine Greer.

Met Peter Cushing in 1970 at Elstree studios when he was filming “The Vampire lovers”. He was such a gentleman, had our photo taken with him. Also whilst there met George cole, Ingrid Pitt and Madeleine smith who were also in film too.

Met Roger Moore who was filming “The man who haunted himself”, he was so friendly as well

Years later I was working in a showroom and Larry Grayson was coming to do the official opening. A lot of elderly Ladies were waiting to see him, autograph books at the ready. Larry arrived in his chauffeur driven rolls royce, did the necessary ribbon cutting and short speech, then proceeded to dash past his adoring public and was driven off
Such a lot of disappointed Ladies. What a nasty egotistical little man!!!!!

Went to David Cassidy comeback concert a few years ago-(i used to be a big fan when i was a teenager) and it turned out our coach tour group booking was in same hotel as him(Blackpool Hilton) I went over & spoke to him& i also told him my DD shared his birthday!) He was really very nice, and friendly, a real genuine mr nice guy! Then he shook my hand, & gave me a peck on the cheek too.Lovely man.?

I was on a charity committee for several years of which Sir Richard Attenborough was the head patron. he was so charming and kind. Called everyone darling because he couldn't remember anyone's names.

Through the same committee I met the late Anthony Minghella who was so nice, and Dame Joan Bakewell, utterly charming.

I once went to Ascot races for the day in a friend's limo with Brian Bennett of the Shadows. Charming person but I didn't have a clue who he was! Most embarrassing when I found out next day. When he was talking about doing stuff with the band on the boat. What boat? QE2. Do you play an instrument. Would still like to die!!

John Sentamu when he was Archbishop of York. I was visiting York Minster on a midweek break and the Archbishop was there. Very warm and friendly and interested about where I came from and why I was there !
Robert Runcie ( Archbishop of Canterbury) he was Bishop of St Albans at the time and as the bishop of the diocese I live in, he confirmed 2 of my brothers, 8 years apart- he came round and spoke to the family at the post service . Very dour man!

My fav was David Jason, hubby worked in the film industry so we were always meeting celebs at end of film parties. I had a lovely smoochie dance with Davis Jason at the end of film party on Porterhouse Blue. I am 5ft 8" and rather buxom, and he is somewhat shorter, so his nose was cleavage level. He had a nice snuggle in my boobies and I felt just like nurse gladys on open all hours. Lovely guy, just like he comes across on TV very genuine, and always gets rounds of drink in for the crew.

I had breakfast next to Tilda Swinton at the Connaught Hotel. Roger Moore was completely up himself, arrived by helicopter, treated everyone like dirt on his shoe and he looked like he had been tangoed with his fake orange skin.

Fiona Fullerton is a stuck up wossit, hubby decorated her London flat, she knocked him when it came to pay, and then had the nerve to do a photo shoot for a glossy mag wearing dungarees saying how she has just redecorated her new flat, which we had done for her, no doubt she got paid for that too, yet did not pay her bill!?!

Spent a weekend painting the drop ship on the film Aliens in 1986 with James Cameron, he was lovely mucking in with the crew.

Met many of the royal family including queen mum as most of dads family work at Windsor castle and they often have garden parties for staff and attend.

I was manning one of the telephones during a tv charity event - maybe Comic Relief - when Rik Mayall came to visit us all. One of the other telephonists asked for a kiss so I asked for one too! He duly obliged I have to say that he was really attractive in real life and it's so sad that he passed away a few years later.

I used to live near Teddington tv Studios and my friend and I were waiting outside to see Gerry of Gerry and the Pacemakers arrive - he stopped his car and opened the window to say "Hi". Unfortunately in my excitement I poked my autograph book in his eye as I put it through the car window . He was very nice about it!!!!

Dame Judi Dench - completely delightful

Lucca

SueDonim

Alan Rickman. I met him at a film premier. He was sex-on-legs and I was rendered speechless. That tells you everything you need to know about him.

Oh yum

Of all I have read so far on this lovely thread, you are the one I truly envy Suedonim. Alan Rickman's voice turned my legs to jelly, what a man.

Danni Rik Mayall was absolutely bloody gorgeous ♥️
I’ve said it before on here and got laughed it.
I can’t think of any man who I find more attractive than Rik

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202109/medium-855679-8c87ac97-c90b-40b4-ab7a-ef41e062ad42.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202109/medium-270925-5431aa41-efcb-4ccf-8752-7b1347c2e438.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202109/medium-8996-bf5d0b78-2a09-4f38-883e-2471a35a47de.png

Look ♥️

John Bardon and June Brown, aka Jim and Dot Branning. They were the loveliest, friendliest people. John had a villa in a resort I worked in in Turkey, June often used to holiday with John and his wife. They never ever refused a photo request no matter what they were doing, often inviting people to sit at their table and chat after such a request.

As to not so nice, Janice Battersby was not nearly so nice and Janice Long's kids were the worst behaved kids on holiday.

Paul Young lives up the road. Often seen in Sainsbury’s. I curtsied to the Queen Mum when I was in the Sixth Form at school, awful varicose veins poor woman.

Isn't it strange how many famous people are shorter than you expect in real life?

Julie Walters used to come into a restaurant I worked in when I lived in London, very polite, quiet, nice woman. Davy Jones, of The Monkees went in there once too. I didn't recognise him until he spoke, he still had the same lovely sexy voice. Glad to report he was nice and polite too. He was short!

I met Martin Clunes about 6 years ago at a Christmas concert in my village church and he was absolutely charming. The concert was held by a cancer charity and he did a couple of readings. Afterwards my 2 daughters and I met him on the way out, where he'd waited to meet people who'd attended and we had our photo taken with him. He was so different to his Doc Martin character - warm, chatty and extremely friendly.

Richard Whiteley, who was always friendly and willing to help at local community events.
Love the comments about Alan Rickman, I thought he was great.

I met Hank Marvin of the Shadows when I was a young teenager and he was friendly and polite.

I went to view Matthew Kelly's house when he was at the height of his popularity and he was really lovely. He made a cup of tea for me and my husband and chatted to us for at least 30 minutes after the Estate Agent left the house.Unfortunately we didn't buy his house because of road noise.

Isn't it strange how many famous people are shorter than you expect in real life?

The queen for example, I saw her by chance in Leeds years ago (we’d parked unaware near something she was visiting ). Ouodnt believe how small she was.

I used to teach Katherine Kelly. Pleasant girl, but hopeless at my subject!

DH and I met and chatted with Eric Morecambe in the mid 60's he was very smiley and full of jokes. I was surprised at his height, he wasn't much taller than me and I was 5' 4" so Ernie Wise must have been very small.

I have never met anyone famous and what's more I don't really want to as they are all up themselves, and fond of dodging the tax system.