A Little Bobby Dazzler

Some time ago Richard had a long term contract delivering training darn sarth.

To be precise the training venue was the Hilton Hotel in Cobham, Surrey.  It was a posh place (Cobham and its surroundings, not necessarily the Hilton).  Chelsea FC had their training centre there and Jose, in his first stint as Chelsea manager, stipulated that all players had to live no more than ten minutes from the facility.

Hence the players all lived in Esher, five minutes up the road.

Richard actually spent so much time at the hotel in 2004 that he would leave his suit to be dry cleaned and Ahmed the receptionist used to say as Richard arrived back on Sunday night, 'Welcome back, Richard.  You're in your usual room...'

Anyway... Rick Wakeman, the world famous keyboard player used to hold an annual fund raiser at the hotel for all his show biz pals.  He might still do, for all Richard knows.

Richard was with the CEO of the company he was working for in the car park of the hotel when Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee rolled up in a whacking great 4 x 4.  Richard may have said something like: 'I really don't like this whole celebrity thing...'

In response, the guy he was with said, 'Watch this!'

He jumped out of his car and strode over to Paul Daniels with his hand outstretched to shake.  As he got closer he said: 'Hey, Paul, great to see you again.  Haven't got time to speak now... I'll see you inside.'

Paul shook his hand and shouted after him as he strode off: 'Yeah, sure... you can buy me a drink!'

Richard was a bit flabbergasted.  'I didn't know you knew Paul Daniels', he said.

'I don't,' said his companion.  'Never met him, never want to!'

And now for the point of the story.

Because Richard had got to know most of the hotel staff he was invited to the charity party and watched Rick Wakeman's fantastic band play a gig... if only from just inside the main door.

The celebs had had their dinner and a few drinks.  Richard saw Denis Waterman holding court with some other actors but he most remembers seeing  a celeb who we'll call Bobby D.

Now, he can't swear to it, obviously, but it seemed as though Bobby might have had a couple of sherberts.

Whether he had or not he was certainly pursuing a young lady across the dance floor.  The problem was she was having none of it and, right in front of Richard, she turned around and shouted at the top of her voice 'go away'.

Those weren't her exact words but you get the point.

In reply, Bobby looked very shocked before shouting back at her 'But I'm Bobby D!'