Encounters with celebrities

In the sixties we used to go to race meetings. Every Saturday to Sandown Park. Sid James was a regular and we exchanged tips. Once a year there was a meeting in aid of the Variety Club. I have an autograph album full of signatures. Burt Lancaster, Ted Ray, Virginia Mackenna and her husband Bill Travers Julie Andrews and many more. One Saturday when we were going into the Silver Ring the Queen Mother was coming out and she stopped and wished us a nice day.
When I was a child 1933 we were sitting on a bench in the V and A museum when a couple stopped to look at a painting in front of us. My mother remarked what lovely legs and stockings the woman was wearing. She turned round and thanked my mother. It was Marina, Duchess of Kent.
Not exactly a meeting but during the war I was cycling towards Windsor when the King’s car came speeding past and I landed in the ditch. He just looked back but didn’t stop!

I once shook hands with Princess Diana when she went walkabout somewhere - sadly I've forgotten exactly where!

Also met Boris Johnson in a lift in London. He and I were the only ones in it and he seemed very nice, said hello and asked how I was.

Back in the 70s, I was struggling through town with bags of shopping when a very well dressed, neat looking woman came towards me. She smiled as she went past and I thought 'I bet you don't have to struggle with bags'. Then I realised it was Lulu!

Many years ago when Michael Crawford was at the height of his TV fame, he starred in the musical Billy. My sister then 15 was a big fan. I managed to bump into one of the dancers and he offered to introduce us to Michael. He was charming. We then went to the pub where we drank with the dancers, including Elaine Paige.
At the opera in Holland Park, I was checking the tennis results when Ian Wright asked me the score (between Nadal and Federer). He then chatted all things football with my husband.
Last week at the Athens' beach, our DiL recognised and introduced us all to an old uni friend. Turns out he was a bodyguard. After a bit of sleuthing, Liz Truss and family were spotted a few sunbeds along. Sadly her two daughters seemed pretty low. Given the past few weeks, they are facing a tough future with their friends!?!

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

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

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

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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😋😋😋😋😋

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.

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!

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.

Sago i miss that cheese shop

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!