I used to work in a motorcycle shop in Slough selling among other franchises, Kawasaki and Aprilia.

I had just completed a sale and was logging the paperwork when another possible customer entered the shop.

I was sure that I knew the face and when I approached him I recognised him as Chris Barrie ( Red Dwarfs Rimmer and Brittas Empires Brittas) .....So of course I said " Can I help you Mr Brittas ?" in my broadest geordie accent..

He grinned, though he must have been fed up with people doing this --- He had come to see the new addition to the Kawasaki range, The W650

We discussed the machine to some length and cutting a long story short I contacted head office at Bourne End to see if there were any deals for TV stars ..I didn't sell the bike from the shop but we saw him riding round Slough on one supplied by KAWASAKI ! It transpired that he dealt with Kawasaki direct each time he bought a bike but came to shops to see it in the flesh. I was pleased that I could discuss a new machine so it was a good exercise..

Another day and a very special motorcycle pulled up outside, the rider took time to get off and then walked into the shop still with helmet and gloves on.

He removed them and stood before me was ---- BODIE (Lewis Collins !)

The machine was the Harris Magnum which Lewis had ridden
in "Who Dares Wins"

He bought gloves from us and he managed later to get me into a crowd scene during the filming of the Professionals !!!

Another star of the electric goldfish bowl is Danny-John Jules who I met behind the grandstand at the TT..

.....and there was half of the HairyBikers, Dave Myers !!!

Finally in this chapter I must mention three ladies I had a day with in London...I was one of the many who had put forward Liz Skinner for the TIMES WOMAN OF THE YEAR a few years back...Because I had supported Liz during the race season she asked me to accompany her up to London for the Awards Ceremony. I was pleased to oblige and we caught the morning train, transferred to tube and arrived in good time at the venue in the centre of London. Tables were laid out with our names and we found we would be sitting opposite to each other. Then on my right was Kathy Tayler and on my left Sharon Davies !! We had a good chat and I found out that Sharon Davies was herself a motorcyclist and had owned a 125cc machine for a while. She gave it up as she succeeded in her swimming career.....On the other side Kathy told me of her own career with PR and I still have her business card.

We had a superb lunch and then Liz was awarded second prize which was an excellent result.