Encounters with celebrities

Not an encounter as such, but Lynda la Plante used to live not a million miles from us, and we often saw her in an open topped car, with 2 great big dogs as passengers, sitting very upright. One was a standard poodle, can’t remember the other, both black though IIRC.

Her house was up for sale a few years ago - tucked well back down a private road, so not visible to passers-by - so of course we had a good old nose when it came up on Rightmove - gorgeous house and equally lovely large garden, IIRC priced at £5m….

As a teenager in the 1950's my DM worked as a silver service waitress in our town. One afternoon Frankie Vaughn, booked in at our theatre, ordered a fish dish, served by mum. Minutes later, he unfortunately got a fishbone stuck in his throat. Poor timid mum got screamed at by him blaming her for ruining his million dollar voice! She was so humiliated and sadly her unfortunate experience with this odious 'celebrity'.

I met Gordon Ramsay a few years ago, and he was absolutely charming. I was quite weak at the knees!

I've told this story before but here goes.

Late FIL did a lot of driving in London. He was on a very narrow road, no room to turn, and a driver coming towards him called, "I think I'd better reverse" and she obligingly did so for quite a distance, which did him an enormous favour. As he passed by and waved his thanks, the driver waved back and gave him a cheery smile. It was Katie Boyle. Dear FIL was a little bit in love with her ever since.

NanKate’s story about being told not to speak to Jasper Carrott reminded me of when I was in a backing chorus at an Andrew Lloyd Webber concert. Sarah Brightman was the star. We were told not to bother her for autographs and so on. We were a bit bemused because none of us could imagine why they thought we would want to!

Sago i miss that cheese shop

When DH was going to be on the Fred McAulay radio show he was told to only speak when spoken to and that only Mr McAulay makes the jokes. DH was not impressed.

At the mention of cheese, I remembered, when working in Berkeley Square, being despatched by my boss to pick up an order of cheese from Paxton and Whitfield in Jermyn Street. As I was going out of the shop David Niven was coming in. He smiled, stood aside and held the door to let me out. How I ever got through the door I don’t know because my knees went quite weak!! And I once dropped a pile of files as I was going up a flight of stairs in the MOD and Lord Mountbatten helped me to pick them up!

For the last few years, 2 of my daughters and myself have been to the last show of the Strictly tour, at the O2 Arena in London. We stay at the posh (to us) hotel next door, which is where the Strictly crowd stay as well. We usually see the odd one in the bar, but last year most of them were there, and my daughters were egging me on to ask for a photo with one of them. I`m a bit of a scaredy cat, so wouldn`t, but next thing I knew, Graziano was kneeling at my side for a photo, closely followed by Johannes! They were both lovely.

grannypiper We are currently holidaying in the Lake District, we now live in the north but our lovely friends whom we met 30 years ago in the said village arrived with a cheese hamper from the fabulous cheese shop😋😋😋😋😋

I slept in Richard Gères bed when visiting Dharamsala
He wasn’t in it at the time !

I had a lovely encounter with Trevor Howard in the late seventies I had been invited to a do at the Barbican Centre before it was officially opened. He was charming and funny

I used to see Nigel Hawthorne at the vets

I saw Clive James nearly every day on my way to work we just nodded.

Back in my junior office girl days, a famous Leeds United player came to the counter in my office. I thought he looked a bit bemused when I asked his name. As I turned round to get the appropriate member of staff, I was nearly knocked down by the manager fighting his way to the counter.

Yes Kenn Dodd chatted to us after a show. Lovely person.
Also Elton gave my friend and I a lift in his air con car when we were hitch hiking. I asked his name as I didn't recognise him then he wasn't that famous. He said Elton, Elton John. I asked if he meant John Elton and he wasn't impressed lolol. Well it was 69/70

I had Simon Williams on the back of my motor bike many years ago

Elizabeth Taylor,Roahl Dahl and..... Jimmy Saville!

Nearly forgot Richard Branson. Worked as a casual waitress at a press reception in a house nr Bristol. After the speech he invited all the waitresses in and poured us all a drink whatever we wanted. Told us all to get a plate and help ourselves to the buffet. He gave us all the food that was leftover and a bottle of wine each to take home. There was caviar so I took a little of that to try with the family. Nobody liked it not even our cat lol He's a lovely person

I've chatted to Adam Zindani - lead guitarist with the Stereophonics. Lovely, pleasant and down to earth.

I met Laurence Llewellyn-bowen in Cirencester about 15 yrs ago, he was lovely, then my husband a gardener started working for him! He & his family are so nice, payment is always prompt, Andy gets tea, coffee & lunch & a good xmas pressie, couldn't fault them.
I walked past someone in Kensington once & thought he looks familiar, later I realised it was Mick Jagger!

In 1970 I gave Frazer Hines his trousers, I was working in sketchleys dry cleaners at the time!!

Some years ago, on a weekend away in London to see a show, my husband and I went for a meal in Covent Garden. Wayne Sleep was in the restaurant enjoying a meal with a large group of friends. Not a ‘major’ celeb but that’s it for me. Don’t get many celebs where I live!

Terry Wogan in Heathrow Airport. He was very smiley to everyone. George Best at Belfast City Airport. I was standing behind him at check-in. He was surprisingly small. Mary Archer because I won a prize and she was involved. We had photos taken and she advised me to give my handbag to my husband as handbags don't look good in photos! Peter Kay and his family in a restaurant but nobody bothered them. Gloria Hunniford used to live in our town before she moved to England. Eamon Holmes too. We would see them now and again.

Many years ago I took Nick Knowles out to dinner - nice guy.

Oh one more. I walked past Ed Sheeran and his friends on a trip to Dublin.

Wayne Sleep’s a major celebrity to me, LizzieDrip!