Who did you meet? What were they *really* like?
- Thread starter swee'pea99
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Guru
- Location
- Crowland, Lincolnshire, UK.
The only celeb I can say I've met i.e. exchanged words with as opposed to 'I stood ont he same railwaty platform that so-and-so was on earlier that week'-type encounters was Mark Speight, former presenter of kids TV show SMart (now sadly no longer with us) at an environment day in Peterborough Central Park. My daughter, who at the time was about 4 years old was totally star-struck and hid behind her hands, so he grabbed a paper bag and did a pen-sketch of her head & shoulders with hands over her face. We still have the sketch somewhere, nice memento of what seemed like a nice bloke, who sadly had a not-unusual-if-the-press-are-correct liking for columbian marching powder.
Mrs B, in the course of working on Books & Stationary for John Lewis organised two book signings. One was for Geoff Hamilton, late Gardeners World presenter, who turned up dressed as he was on the TV in cords, checked shirt and body warmer and when offered a range of expensive Parker, Cross and Mont Blanc pens said "it's alright I've got my own" and produced a Berol Fibretip from his shift pocket
. The other was Terry Waite, who she said was just as down-to-earth and charming as he comes accross on TV. She was going to be credit-pirated by her Cow Of A Boss becuase Mrs B organised the whole thing and C.O.A.B. tried to exclude her from the post-book-signing drinky reception for Mr Waite with all of the top-floor manager types, until the assistant MD told C.O.A.B. "No, Jane is coming, she had a lot to do with the success of today and she deserves it". C.O.A.B. was not a happy bunny 
Mrs B also served Kim Hartman (helga from Allo Allo) who was appearing in a one-woman shoe at The Key Theatre Peterborough and was reportedly lovely.
She also heard from a friend at Jon Lewis who'd served Geoff Capes that he was a bit of a 'don't you know who I am' type, with a conversation which, when ordering soem goods form this lady's department, went thus; (sales assistant) "Can I have your surname please sir?". (Geoff Capes, sarcastic) "Smiff, wi' two f's!" Sales assistant dilligently and equally sarcastically writes down 'Smiff'.
Mrs B, in the course of working on Books & Stationary for John Lewis organised two book signings. One was for Geoff Hamilton, late Gardeners World presenter, who turned up dressed as he was on the TV in cords, checked shirt and body warmer and when offered a range of expensive Parker, Cross and Mont Blanc pens said "it's alright I've got my own" and produced a Berol Fibretip from his shift pocket
. The other was Terry Waite, who she said was just as down-to-earth and charming as he comes accross on TV. She was going to be credit-pirated by her Cow Of A Boss becuase Mrs B organised the whole thing and C.O.A.B. tried to exclude her from the post-book-signing drinky reception for Mr Waite with all of the top-floor manager types, until the assistant MD told C.O.A.B. "No, Jane is coming, she had a lot to do with the success of today and she deserves it". C.O.A.B. was not a happy bunny Mrs B also served Kim Hartman (helga from Allo Allo) who was appearing in a one-woman shoe at The Key Theatre Peterborough and was reportedly lovely.
She also heard from a friend at Jon Lewis who'd served Geoff Capes that he was a bit of a 'don't you know who I am' type, with a conversation which, when ordering soem goods form this lady's department, went thus; (sales assistant) "Can I have your surname please sir?". (Geoff Capes, sarcastic) "Smiff, wi' two f's!" Sales assistant dilligently and equally sarcastically writes down 'Smiff'.
Trembler49
Veteran
- Location
- Portimao, Portugal
I once sat next to Christine Lagarde (head of the IMF) at a business lunch (I usually say I had lunch with her). we spent quite a while chatting. She is a really nice person and frighteningly bright. Very family oriented.
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
I've got to say I'm jealous of a lot of people on here. The list of famous people I've been in contact with is short and I've only had a proper conversation with one of them:
Pete Postlethwaite: Attended two events he was invited to. At the more informal one he showed himself to be very laid back and just a nice person to be around.
Marius Goring: A friend of my uncle - I met him at my Aunt and Uncles wedding and had no idea who he was (famous 1940's/50's film star) so I don't really remember much of the encounter.
Chris Bonington: A few years ago I climbed The Old Man of Coniston with my brother and a good friend. Later in the evening we were in the Black Bull (public house, brewery and hotel) discussing the day and feeling pretty good about our achievement....... until we noticed that the group at the next table included Chris Bonington (we didn't get the opportunity to speak to him or his party). Having proper mountaineers so close rather took the wind out of our sails.
Brian Blessed: Attended two events he was at. He is the most amazing, enthusiastic, inspirational (and loudest) public speaker I have ever heard. If he wanted to be Prime Minister I'd vote for him in an instant.
Lembit Opik: The only one i've actually had a proper conversation with. Seemed like a nice guy to me but then he is a politician and who trusts them?
Pete Postlethwaite: Attended two events he was invited to. At the more informal one he showed himself to be very laid back and just a nice person to be around.
Marius Goring: A friend of my uncle - I met him at my Aunt and Uncles wedding and had no idea who he was (famous 1940's/50's film star) so I don't really remember much of the encounter.
Chris Bonington: A few years ago I climbed The Old Man of Coniston with my brother and a good friend. Later in the evening we were in the Black Bull (public house, brewery and hotel) discussing the day and feeling pretty good about our achievement....... until we noticed that the group at the next table included Chris Bonington (we didn't get the opportunity to speak to him or his party). Having proper mountaineers so close rather took the wind out of our sails.
Brian Blessed: Attended two events he was at. He is the most amazing, enthusiastic, inspirational (and loudest) public speaker I have ever heard. If he wanted to be Prime Minister I'd vote for him in an instant.
Lembit Opik: The only one i've actually had a proper conversation with. Seemed like a nice guy to me but then he is a politician and who trusts them?
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
Martin Johnson. Being World Cup winning captain and with far too many other honours to mention, we met him on the streets of Dublin, after a Heineken cup match, going to the cash point. On the pitch he is a brutal, uncompromising, nasty, unflinching beast of a man who would rather be sent off than pushed around. Off the pitch? More than happy to be stopped for a chat by a group of half-drunk fans with nothing better to do.
Steve Lomaq? Quiet and introverted, but passionate about music, and ready to chat. But he was in my Aunt's kitchen at the time, so really couldn't run away.
Steve Lomaq? Quiet and introverted, but passionate about music, and ready to chat. But he was in my Aunt's kitchen at the time, so really couldn't run away.
Hover Fly
He, him, his
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
Bob Dixon* really nice bloke, always had some sweets for brother and me when he came to visit.
*Max Bygraves'es piano player, that's who. Was a next door neighbor of mother once.
*Max Bygraves'es piano player, that's who. Was a next door neighbor of mother once.
Hover Fly
He, him, his
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
Chris Bonington: A few years ago I climbed The Old Man of Coniston with my brother and a good friend. Later in the evening we were in the Black Bull (public house, brewery and hotel) discussing the day and feeling pretty good about our achievement....... until we noticed that the group at the next table included Chris Bonington (we didn't get the opportunity to speak to him or his party). Having proper mountaineers so close rather took the wind out of our sails.
Totally irrelevant aside: Where I first met Mme HF.
Browser
Guru
- Location
- Crowland, Lincolnshire, UK.
Hover Fly's post has just reminded me of a really obscure one, not really a celeb just an interesting bloke. A great friend of Mrs B's nanny, a guy by the name of Reg Hoskins who, amongst other things had been piano accompanist to Betty Driver in her younger days as a touring singer and had also been on tour with Spike Milligan in his post-war theatre days.
On tour with Milligan, walking through a town in the UK somewhere looking for a cafe they pass an undertakers. Milligan says "watch this", nips in and lays on the floor with a cry of "Shop!". Eventually a sepulchural face appears through the curtains from the rear of the shop and intones "yes sir" in his best funereal voice, to which Milligan replies "have you got any empty boxes?"
On tour with Milligan, walking through a town in the UK somewhere looking for a cafe they pass an undertakers. Milligan says "watch this", nips in and lays on the floor with a cry of "Shop!". Eventually a sepulchural face appears through the curtains from the rear of the shop and intones "yes sir" in his best funereal voice, to which Milligan replies "have you got any empty boxes?"
And here was me thinking I had missed out !
Mad Doug Biker
Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
- Location
- Craggy Island
It's even worse now??
I have met briefly various people at charity events including Simon Weston (a very funny and inspirational guy. The guy badly disfigured during the Falklands if you don't know. He told us that the surgeons used skin from his penis to reconstruct part of his fingers, so he was able to say that the Queen had touched his willy when they shook hands
), Simon Yates (the guy who cut the rope in Touching The Void, sending Joe Simpson into the Crevasse), Roger Daltrey (Who), Noel Fielding (The Mighty Boosh), and.... erm.... Cherie Blair (slightly odd looking even in real life).Oh yes and I used to work with Forbes McFall, a former BBC Scotland TV and Radio Presenter. Nice enough guy but very private and wouldn't talk about himself unless asked, and even then you could tell he was only giving you half the story.
I only learned afterwards that he'd gone to Cambridge (I think) and was actually very intelligent, so what he would have thought of me is anyone's guess!
Talking of news presenters, I also once got the Autograph of former STV Newsreader, Angus Simpson when I was about 8 when he opened the annual multichurch* summer gala day
I seem to remember he was slightly surprised but happily obliged. He was someone off the telly after all!
* The local Church Of Scotland and Catholic Church joint summer fete/gala day, always held at one of the local primary Schools. It was one of these great events where EVERYONE mucked in and helped, regardless of who or how old you were - 'Community Spirit' and all that. I believe they don't run it now, which is a shame because it genuinely brought people in the local area together and generated a lot of good will between the churches.
I think former BBC and Radio Clyde 2** presenter Jimmy Mack opened it another year. Only the best names in showbusiness you see!
** - My Mum listened to Clyde 2 (Radio Clyde's version of Radio 2 practically), so I was vaguely aware of who he was.
Angus444
Senior Member
It's even worse now??
I have met briefly various people at charity events including Simon Weston (a very funny and inspirational guy. The guy badly disfigured during the Falklands if you don't know. He told us that the surgeons used skin from his penis to reconstruct part of his fingers, so he was able to say that the Queen had touched his willy when they shook hands
Oh yes and I used to work with Forbes McFall, a former BBC Scotland TV and Radio Presenter. Nice enough guy but very private and wouldn't talk about himself unless asked, and even then you could tell he was only giving you half the story.
I only learned afterwards that he'd gone to Cambridge (I think) and was actually very intelligent, so what he would have thought of me is anyone's guess!
Talking of news presenters, I also once got the Autograph of former STV Newsreader, Angus Simpson when I was about 8 when he opened the annual multichurch* summer gala day
I seem to remember he was slightly surprised but happily obliged. He was someone off the telly after all!
* The local Church Of Scotland and Catholic Church joint summer fete/gala day, always held at one of the local primary Schools. It was one of these great events where EVERYONE mucked in and helped, regardless of who or how old you were - 'Community Spirit' and all that. I believe they don't run it now, which is a shame because it genuinely brought people in the local area together and generated a lot of good will between the churches.
I think former BBC and Radio Clyde 2** presenter Jimmy Mack opened it another year. Only the best names in showbusiness you see!
** - My Mum listened to Clyde 2 (Radio Clyde's version of Radio 2 practically), so I was vaguely aware of who he was.
Doug, Jimmy Mack? Wow, a blast from the past... Had totally forgotten about him.....and Gerry MacKenzie, was he the Tartan Terror, on STV's Thingymajig......??
(Sorry, probably bamboozled 95% of the folks on here...
)Mad Doug Biker
Banned from every bar in the Galaxy
- Location
- Craggy Island
Doug, Jimmy Mack? Wow, a blast from the past... Had totally forgotten about him.....and Gerry MacKenzie, was he the Tartan Terror, on STV's Thingymajig......??
(Sorry, probably bamboozled 95% of the folks on here...
And me, I had to look that up. Um, yes, it appears so.
Mugshot
Cracking a solo.
Had a similar experience myself with Mr Jerome Flynn, he bought something from me and was most put out when I asked him his name so I could have the thing delivered (I knew full well who he was by the way.) He also absolutely REEKED of B.O.
Went to a Smiths concert many years ago (obviously) and Morrissey was doing a bit of hand touching with the front row of the mosh pit when the lads standing next to me pulled him off the stage, he ended up standing in front of me trying to get back up so I gave him a shove/lift/bunk back up, then handed his mic back to a roadie. He didn't thank me or anything! He staggered off stage, wouldn't come back on and the concert ended in a riot, good days.
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
I briefly met Stuart Maconie last night... seemed nice enough.
