On many an occasion I've wondered what it says about us (and in all probability nothing at all) that we often seem to brush close to the famous, without ever quite achieving it for ourselves.
The thought crossed my mind again this evening when The boy and I were watching a new ITV programme called Demons. It's complete nonsense about supernatura; goings on in London, and no less enjoyable for that. But for me the highlight is that the hero lives in a building that I instantly recognised as somewhere that I own a flat....it's very art-deco and designed by the same architects as the rather more famous Hoover Building. The Alaska's history is rather less illustrious though, as it was constructed to process seal fur:
"Another fascinating ex-industrial building is the former Alaska Factory. This opened in 1869 for working seal fur. Only the brick entrance gates with the carving of an Alaskan seal on its façade remain of the old factory. Behind the gate stands a clean white art deco building made by the Architect Wallis Gilbert, who also designed the Hoover buildings in London. Originally the workmen would work endless shifts with barrels of beer instead of canteens and play spontaneous games of football. As working techniques and demands changed, the factory was continuously added to or rebuilt. It was bombed twice in WWll. In the fifties it had its first canteen, organised sports teams and new regulations about working hours, all of which seem to be reflected in the clean white scientific new building."
When The Boy and I lived in Borough High St we were just spitting distance from Borough Market, which has featured in numerous films, TV programmes and ads, so there's always much excitement whenever it's seen as we chime in tandem "We used to live there"
And in Brighton too, a film (the name of which passes me by at the moment) was made at the bottom of our Square.
But it's not just our residential location to the famous, our brushes have included me being directed in amateur dramatics by Chris Timothy...best known for playing James Herriot and I believe regular appearances in Casualty. Plus I've lunched with Prince Edward (the stripogram who materialised was less than welcome), partied with Ulrika Johnson and had lots of other contacts with A listers, B listers and even Z listers. Evidently I was at school with Alan Davies, though I can't say I remember him, and I gather he hated the place.
So fame has never rubbed off on me, and I wonder if it will on the boy. Or if he wuld want it to. We'll see.
