Fame

For reasons that will become clear, I have no photos for this post 😎

I began my teaching career when the TV series of Fame was a must-see with my class of thirteen year old youngsters. One girl was a particularly good dancer and looked like a very young Irene Cara and her dream was to be famous.

Fast forward a few years to 2001, when our plans for a weekend in Prague were temporarily stymied by the date on Edward’s passport. Thankfully, that was all resolved and our weekend went ahead as planned, though not without slight delay whilst the two men in my life ran into central London to resolve the issue. Meanwhile, whilst I waited at LHR, who should come and sit alongside me but Kylie Minogue and members of her entourage. During the next couple of hours I observed passers by do double takes as they spotted her, some turning around and returning for a closer look. Some pulled out their cameras and took photographs, whilst I sat wondering whether to speak to her or leave her in peace. I settled for the latter, for after just a few minutes, I realised how I would hate being recognised like that and not be able to get one minute’s peace as I waited for a plane.

I still wonder whether I ought to have at least said “hello” to Kylie; acknowledged her in some way before leaving her in peace. Though would I have greeted anyone else who sat down beside me? I doubt it. Nevertheless, all these years later, I still question that and wonder whether I’d not been rather rude in ignoring her. After all, a few members of the Royal Family have homes in this corner of the world and it’s not unknown to encounter them going about their daily lives. In particular, the Princess Royal travels to London by train, rides out fairly often and drives herself around the area. People around here are respectful, wouldn’t dream of pulling out a camera or making a fuss but a polite “good morning” or similar is the general routine. In other words, just like everyone else, friendly greetings are exchanged but there’s no fuss.

I guess we applied that same approach when we were staying in a small hotel in Derbyshire, where we’d almost finished our breakfast in an empty dining room when Judi Dench came and sat at a nearby table. As we left the room, it would have been rude not to at least say “Good Morning”, to which she smiled and commented about the weather, which she hoped would remain fine because she’d “be outdoors the whole day”. We realised she was filming Jane Eyre at the stately home just up the road, so agreed with her and smiled when she went on to express her hope that she wouldn’t have to “get on a horse”! Simple pleasantries exchanged in the same well mannered way that we’d all been brought up to apply by our parents.

All of this has come to the fore as a result of our experience last week in Wexford, where waiting for the doors to open in the theatre one evening, we spotted a well known, respected gentleman and his wife. He’s known for his successful career in politics and more recently for several very popular TV series, travelling by train here and there. I had met him on a couple of occasions when he spoke at events I had organised and found him to be utterly charming. How interesting that he enjoys obscure operas as well, we thought.

The following morning, who should be there at breakfast in our hotel, but this same gentleman and his wife and it was this that prompted a conversation between my Hero and I about how the fame that commands respect has been overtaken by the concept of “celebrity”. As the gentleman in question perused the breakfast buffet, someone took out their phone and asked for a selfie with him. Poor man had to put down his plate, stand and smile whilst someone came along and captured the moment.

How rude.

When did the concept of “good manners” become forgotten? Where did respect disappear to? More to the point, who would want to “be famous” if that means never being able to simply eat breakfast in peace and quiet?!

During our last afternoon in Wexford, we squeezed into Simons Place for one last pint of Guinness, waiting a short time for a table to become free. As we waited, the manager we’d chatted to a couple of times greeted us and, looking at me, said that one of the waitresses had commented the previous day that she thought she recognised me. “Was I someone famous?” she asked. Let’s just say that I was very pleased indeed to say “most definitely not!”