Meets and Partners

To kick this one off I notice you have an interview on site with Stephen Venables.

The Venerable Venables is an old friend of mine we go back a long way, this is how I met him.

On a midweek at a Yorkshire gristone crag long long ago a group of the local Climbing Club were strutting there stuff, soloing was the name of the game, one up all up & all very competative. As I descended the NW face I passed under its easiest climb a HS called Central Climb.
A lone bod had been perched half way up for some time & not moved, so I was not suprised to hear an

'Excuse me I seem to be in a little difficulty can you throw me a rope'

Very quiet very polite, you see Steve was an Oxbridge type & we were thugs.
Well this was to good an opportunity to miss, within 5 minutes the lone bod had several rope thrown at him, all coiled, the in joke at the time.
Eventually we helped him up & found he was working as a teacher in one of our local schools.
Steve joined our group & we all became good friends, he was always a big mountain man and quickly dubbed Bergsteiger.

Its been fantastic to see his mountaineering develop over the years.

Central Climb is now a VS.

Worked for lots of famous people but Michael Palin turned up on a job and made us all coffee. Top fella.

I saw myself in the mirror this morning!








IGMC

Last autumn we walked from Aviemore to Glen Clova via Ben Avon and other tops. We also met the Queen planting trees in a wood near Balmoral along with a few minor royals, security guards and corgis. We stopped and chatted to her for a few minutes. All very bizarre. We were both wearing Rons too.

"We were both wearing Rons too"

Can we take it from that that Her Majesty was sporting a pair of Ron Hills?!!

;-)

I wish...but unfortunately not. That would have been a great moment. My mate and I were in rons and HRH was wearing wellies and a scarf over her head, uncanningly like Helen Mirren does in the highland scenes in the Queen.

The most bizarre thing was that it was stalking season and we were planning to go thru this wood, up to a col then drop down into Glen Callater, camp and then make a very early start to get to Glen Clova and get the postbus to Kirriemuir. HRH said they were still still stalking and the only alternative route was to take this path that basically took us via the summit of Lochnagar or something (it was 3pm at this time). This was impossible but we agreed and went on before meeting a member of the stalking party who said they were done so off we went only to get a very polite bollocking from a gamekeeper who caught up with us later on.

I've been running a couple of times with Alan Hinkes (he's not very good), I've had a chat with Clint Eastwood and my mate has appeared in a film with Michael Caine and Edward Fox. I've not made any of that up. I could go on . . .

Bumped into Prince Charles once on our way down Carn an tuirc. He was just walking along the path in his kilt. Didn't stop to chat because he was obviously looking for some peace. He appeared to be alone but every time I tell this story I'm told there would be "snipers hiding in the heather".

> I'm told there would be "snipers hiding in the heather".

And they still haven't managed to hit him? Not very good snipers, are they...

I met Gail Porter while marshaling at a rally. We stumbled onto a photoshoot where she was posing with one of the cars. My mate had a major crush on her and was almost speechless when she came over and spoke to us afterward.

..........but to get back on thread

I was on a hilltop once where Wainwright allegedly had once ignored some of his fans.
Oh hang on. That's most of the tops in the Lakes isn't it (snigger)

I was waiting to fly from Brize Norton to Iraq on an op tour when my phone rang and it was Chris Bonington!!!

Turns out my husband and sons had gone to the Outdoor show and waited for him to sign a book. Hubby then got his phone out and asked Chris to wish me good luck. Amazing.

I sent him an e.mail from his web site last year and he remembered me, he was glad I got home safe (so were hubby and kids!!)

In a bothy some years ago I met an AWOL squaddie. Nice lad, if a little tense.
On Ben Lomond, new years day 1997 I met actor Jonathan Pryce.
In a lift in an Edinburgh art gallery, met James Doohan (Scotty). Also in Edinburgh met my future misses in a boiler house :o)
Also met most of my heroes, and yes as they say you'll only be disappointed.

Oh aye, Joe Brown (spiky haired guitarist of yesteryear) used the urinal next to me in Euston station some years back.

Met Michael Palin in the Glencoe Hotel a while back. He was with Hamish McInness.

Saw Ken Stott outside a pub in Skye. His real life attitude seemed to match his moody on-screen characters. Very loud, and a miserable sod!

Literally bumped into Gavin something-or-other (The bloke that sings for Bush and is married to Gwen Steffani) in a shop in Heathrow Airport.

Talked to Camilla Parker-Bowles and what seemed to be a "lady in waiting" beside Loch Muick, Lochnagar. Richard Veitch - it's true what they say about the snipers, I've seen them!

Spoke very briefly to the Queen when I was about 8 years old. The kids in my school were forced to stand in the freezing cold to wave wee union jack flags when she arrived to open a building.

Ha ! Call any of that name dropping ?

I'VE bumped into cameron mcneish in knoydart, where he was sporting a very nice beige lowe alpine two piece !

Bumped into Julie Christie in a particularily wild & windswept corner of Donegal. She was filming 'The Railway Station Man' with Donald Sutherland. My husband bumped into John Smith (former Labour leader, bless him) in the Cairngorms.

Once saw Pete Postlethwaite whilsy walking in South Shropshire.

ecco,


Never admit to beige?????

Met loads of famous people but my favourites are...

Alan Hansen - I told him he was a bit brave being a hated scouser walking round Manchester to which he replied "I'm Scottish you idiot!"

Lee Sharpe - When I was young and I asked him for his autograph and the pen ran out after he'd written Lee.

Bonehead ( Oasis ) - Absolutely hammered and he was too and he dived on me in a pub in Bowden and we both ended up on the floor at which point he kissed me on the forehead.

Ian Rush - He was on my plane coming back from Amsterdam once and when I told him I'm a United fan he said "I'd best watch me wallet then" ??? coming from a scouser?!

Mark Hughes - I watched the I think 86 cup final with him in a snooker place in Sale. I sat eating a pie aged 10 and he spoke to me through the match. Plus he is one of my biggest ever heroes and still is.

George Martn / Sugababes / Lightening Seeds - I had to interview them for a John Lennon fan site I sued to run.

David Beckham & Posh - Was drunk one valentines night in Manchester and as I was walking along they came running out of the side of the Midland Hotel in town and Becks banged into me. Me being a fool and drunk suddenly grabbed becks and told him how much I loved him, he very quickly retreated into a Merc that was waiting to pick them up!

Walking wise, I met Lorraine McCall a few months back in a teepee in Edinburgh for a John Muir Trust night and she was an absolute delight!

Oh and if it really counts, I'm sure he'll think it does. I did once see Jon Doran in Tesco in Glossop near the checkouts as I was walking in!

Plenty more but I'm bored now!

P.S. Lorraine said she is now working on her book so that should hopefully be out in the near future!

"I'd best watch me wallet then" ??? coming from a scouser?!


Ian Rush a scouser ??? I don't know who should be more insulted, Rush or scousers !!!


;-))


Also jamie, I am getting a bit worried about you, you see Posh & Becks, and you make a grab for Becks ????

Bloody he-ll !!!


:(