I recently visited the Silver Lunch Club in Downham. And the question that I asked them left me with a few memories to offer today.   

My question of the day was less ‘silly’ this time and brought quite a lot of fascinating answers.  I asked, ‘Have you ever met someone famous?’ and the answers came thick and fast.  

The first person I asked just said, ‘yes,’ and I thought that that was the only answer I was going to get, but it turned out that LM has been a signed-up member of the actor’s club in London for quite a while.  She told me about her encounters with Brian May, Anita Dobson, Sue Pollard, and Lonnie Donegan. Nicholas Parsons and Amanda Barrie, just to mention a few household names.  And the thing that she said struck her the most was just how down-to-earth most of them are when you get the opportunity for a bit of a chat. 

On one occasion, LM told us that she went outside the back of the CAA’s building for a quick puff on a cigarette, which was the thing to do at the time.  She says that while she was there, a gentleman came out for the same reason, and they had quite a nice chat. When she went back to the gathering, someone pointed out that she had just shared that lighted moment with Barry Cryer without even realising it.   

MC told me all about his encounter with the great Tommy Cooper, which he enjoyed, although he mentioned a ventriloquist whose name he couldn't remember, who left him a little less impressed.   I am guessing that he meant Ray Allen and his dummy, who was called Lord Charles, but I could be wrong.  I then spoke to JP, who could not think of one famous person he had met, but he told us that he did not believe that he had missed out in any way.   

DB was quite handy with his feet back in the day and reminisced about his meeting with George Best, the footballer.  He told us that his friend’s son knew someone who knew someone, which resulted in him meeting his idol at a football ground. On the day, there was a short kick-about involving the two of them, while other famous people also got involved.  Notably, Freddie, who fronted the Dreamers pop group, turned out to be quite good at football, and a few other famous names were there on the day.  It is an experience that he will never forget.  

ST was impressed by Heather Small of M People, whom she encountered while the singer was filming a video in Covent Garden.  ST says that she will never forget how friendly the singer was and that her name suited her because of her small stature.  She also mentioned that her own life could have taken a very different direction because, when she was at school, there was a visit from Lionel Bart.  There was an audition for The Sound of Music, and she was offered the part of Liesl, but her parents said, ‘No!’    

MT spent a lot of time at the Orchard Theatre, where he has rubbed shoulders with June Whitfield and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, to name a few.  Lewisham Theatre was the place where CR met Wayne Sleep.  SW mentioned that Kimmy Walker of ‘Desmon’s’ fame (the British television sitcom) was her mum’s best friend.  

BA went one better than having met someone famous.  She is related by marriage to Mohamed Mounir, a renowned singer and actor in Egypt.  Lastly, I talked to PC, who answered my question with just two words, ‘Yeah… lots’.  As a journalist, he has interviewed more than a few famous names, including Franz Beckenbauer and Spike Milligan, who was surprisingly and seriously down-to-earth in real life.   

 
I have never heard so many names dropped in such a short space of time, but hearing what the members of this club had to say offered us a few memory-jogging appellations.  So, it has been confirmed that we ‘Lewishamonians’ can rest in the knowledge that this particular borough has had (either indirectly or directly) the opportunity to rub shoulders with some influential people, both past and present. 

The Silver Lunch Club for people aged 60+, meets every Thursday 12:30 - 2:30 pm at Wesley Halls, 2 Shroffold Road (at the corner of Downham Way), BR1 5PE.

Why not join them  for a hot meal, friendship, games, quizzes and more!

£5 – first session is FREE

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Maureen B

For LPG