I've danced with a m“ an, who's danced with a girl, who's danced with the Prince of Wales "I've danced with a man, w”ho's danced with a girl, who's danced with the Prince of Wales" was a 1927 song by Herbert Farjeon and Harold Scott written at the height of the popularity of Edward, Prince of Wales (Provincial Grand Master for Surrey), later Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. It was inspired by a 1920s incident at the Ascot Cabaret Ball, at which Edward asked ballroom dancing champion Edna Deane to dance with him nine times. HM The Queen, Prince Philip, HRH Prince Charles, HRH Prince Andrew, and HRH PFrinAceMss AOnnUe”.S PEOPLE YOU’VE MET by Peter Cartwright Just how much stock do we take on meeting famous ROYALTY people? I, for one have have never met anyone famous ROBERT SOPER “I met the HM The Queen at a reception except perhaps one that my daughter reminded me of at St James’s Palace in 1996. It was a reception for the when we went to see the musical “Cats”. That great Royal School of Church Music. I was asked, having been booming and likeable actor, Brian Blessed who spoke to introduced to HM myself, then to introduce her to eight us in the foyer during a break in the show and asked us others. This was before my Freemasonry days. I’ve also if we were enjoying the production. met three former Archbishops of Canterbury, (actually I joked on social media recently, that when I was meeting and talking to them), as well as being in once touring Italy and visited Rome during Easter, I Cathedral services with others, including the current one”. happened to join in with the crowd listening to an DAVID CLARK “I met HRH Prince Charles in a big bush address by the Pope who, dressed in white, raising his once at Windsor Castle – he was investigating the arm in a heavenly salute to St. Peter. Thinking he was smoke coming out the bush. My colleague was having a referring to me, I waved back. crafty cigarette”. I’ve been in the company of, but not actually met, ASH TOFTE “I’ve met loads, far to many to go through, a member of the Royal family. There are many of you but perhaps the most famous would be HRH Prince who have had such a priviledge. The following Phillip on a few occasions, being as I served in his narrative are Freemasons in Surrey and others who regiment. have answered my enquiring post on social media, CHRIS CASSELDEN “HM The Queen, Prince Phillip, followed by one non-Freemason. So let’s begin: Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne”. Margaret Thatcher during separate visits to local Conservative offices. PETER MEARNS ”Amongst others, Rex Tillerson who became a Secretary of State under President Trump. He was in Exon Mobile and subsequently became President of the company. Picked him up a couple of times at the private part of Luton airport and from his hotel whilst I was chauffeuring. MIKE CHARLESWORTH said he met many “of the great and awful” during his 17 years working at the House of Lords”. ACTORS, FILM STARS, TV & SPORTS PERSONALITIES PETER ASHTON once bought a fishing rod from Chris Tarrant. BRIAN WELLS “I've had Danny Dyer, Neil Morrisey, BRENDAN GLYNN “I met HM The Queen in 1996 when Sarah Harding, Denise Van Outen, Christopher Biggins, she opened Sainsburys new superstore in New Cross. Lionel Blair and Kellie Shirley occupying my flat every She was most interested in the store, asking me about day for two weeks together with the film crew when how many jobs we created and our involvement in the they were making "Run for your Wife" in 2011”. local community”. RICHARD STEPHENSON “Screaming Lord Sutch”. LEO HOPKINS “When I was 17 and in college, I met NICK BUTTERWORTH “Being a massive Dr Who fan, I HRH Prince Andrew”. have met the following Dr's – Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, BOB JONES “I’ve shaken hands with HRH The Duke of Peter Davidson, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul Kent, HRH Prince Michael of Kent and the Marquess of McCann at various conventions. And Nick also met Northampton. various multiple Daleks, Cybermen, Ice Warriors and SURREY FREEMASON reports he’s met Royalty on many other classic monsters. occasions. DEAN STEWART “For my sins I have met Jimmy Saville ANDREW BUSHE “Met Lady Diana when she opened a (no comments please). Tom travel exhibition and said a very brief hello”. Baker, (Dr Who). Met both Finishing Royalty with WILL FRY who says he’s met when I was very young when a few old queens in his time. the London Taxis took kids HEADS OF STATE, CABINET MINISTERS AND down to the coast in convoy” POLITICIANS PETER LONG “Met Hugh Grant KHALI RAHMAN “I once had breakfast at Fulham, Windsor Davies in with Indira Gandhi, soon after she took the Greyhound pub in over as Prime Minister of India - Long Carshalton when the Grand National was on and he Story.” bought me a pint”. DAVID CLARK “Paddy Ashdown and his ANDY FOX is a London Black Cabbie so he’s met a few wife ate my packed meal at the Festival of celebrities: Ann Diamond; Angela Rippon; Jarvis Remembrance. They arrived late and hadn’t had Cocker; David Gower; Mike Tindall; Peter Crouch; Dame anything to eat”. Edna Everage; Nicolas Witchel; Vanessa Phelps; ALAN BROCKWELL John Major at a visit to his old Brendan Glynn [who?]; Jose Mouriniho; Gianfranco school where I was a Governor. Both Teresa May and Zola”. RORY KANE ”Had a beer with the lovely Oliver Reed in and bazaar and he generously a pub close to his house”. bought me lunch”. PAUL CRANE ”Jim Davison at a Greg Lake concert in ALAN BROCKWELL ”I met Rick Lancing”. Wakeman at dinner, also GERRY MASON ”Marianne Faithfull when she got off a Roger De Coursey who did a Royal Blue coach in Exeter and asked me directions to turn at my installation”. the theatre (where she was performing that night). I RICHARD CRIDDLE ”I worked offered to help her with her bags and when I showed for Theo Paphitis (of Dragons her the front door of the theatre she told me who she Den) for 2 years. I had dinner was etc, and wanted the stage door and thanked me with Mark Smith (from BBC and gave me kiss on the cheek – never washed that TV’S Antiques Roadshow) after cheek since . That was nearly 60 years ago and at the he gave a talk at an event I time and to be honest did not know who she was until I organised, and I know the actress Soo Droet (in Robin saw her on stage that evening with the Rolling Stones Hood Prince of Thieves) amongst other films and and others. Cannot remember ritual these days but I adverts”. remember her!” ADAM STEVEN ”I am a huge Star Wars fan, and was MARCUS GOOCH ”Back in college I worked in a bike lucky enough to have met David Prowse and Kenny shop and sold Dame Judi Dench a bike as a present for Baker”. a grandson. There is a little more to the story, but the TERRY BARNES ”I met Spike Milligan at New Scotland long and short of it is that she is every bit as kind and Yard, when he visited my Commander. They were gracious as you might think she is”. mates in the army. Also met Roger De Courcey, Peter ASH TOFTE ”I was in a film with Jean Claude Van Ebdon, Gareth Hunt and Jim Davidson, when attending Damn, I taught him everything he knows actually Chelsea Lodge where John Virgo was initiated about 20 during breaks from filming when he would come and odd years ago”. have lunch with us. As for tv personalities dozens upon NICHOLAS HOOK ”I caddied for Ronnie Corbett a few dozens. Georgia Moffett is absolutely stunningly times when I was around 14 years old and 6' which beautiful and both her and David are lovely people, as looked very funny im told”. is her mum. Of course to this day they will all LUKE BENNETT ”I've met quite a few 'faces', but the remember the day they one who left me the most star struck was Muhammad met me. Ali at Heathrow once. I was only 18, so I actually asked for his autograph due to the legend factor! The most famous mason I have met is probably Jim Davidson (although I think he may have since resigned) at the Carlton Club bar and a MP who is also on the square”. CHRIS HATTON ”I had dinner with Mohamed Ali in The Dal Magreb restaurant Sunset Boulevard in 1980! My cousins husband had put a gold chain with the front page of the Koran around his neck saying you are a far better Muslim than me, I want you to have it! Ali ANDREW BOND met was so overcome he invited my cousin (and me!) for Michael Barrymore dinner after he had visited the UK. Good as his word when he was doing a road safety advertisement at when he got back to LA he got the manager to phone Exeter Granada services. Andrew was 8 years old at my cousin and invited us to dinner! the time. When I got home on another visit to the UK I saw JOHN L WAGGOTT “I met Jimmy Paige in Cairo on my Ali wearing the necklace on the Russell Harty show! I 40th birthday.