The night we met Doddy and Mrs T
READING the article about the incredible Ken Dodd in the April 21st edition of the Bugle took me straight back to an encounter we will never forget.
We were travelling back from a holiday in Scotland and had decided,on a whim, to have a night over in Blackpool before we called on our parents in Gospel Oak and Toll End (Tipton).
Ticket
We had managed to get a ticket for the Ken Dodd show for whatever theatre he was at. Unknown to us was the fact that Blackpool was also the venue for the Conservative Party Annual Conference and that many delegates were at the theatre the same night, including Margaret and Dennis Thatcher.
Remarkably, Doddy finished his show actually on time that night, a very unusual occurrence as he usually ran well over. He was obviously under orders as the PM had a busy week and Doddy was a keen supporter.
After the show, Jean and I decided to go to the stage door to see Doddy leave and tell him how much fun the show was. When we got there we were on our own with just one very large, friendly policeman guarding the door.
He told us Doddy might be along time because Mr and Mrs T were visiting his dressing room. After what seemed an age the PM, Dennis, Ken Dodd and his lady emerged and made for a waiting car. As they went past we cheekily said what a great show it was and how much we had enjoyed it.
Smiles
Mrs T and Dennis waved to us with big smiles and got into the car. As he went back to the stage door, Doddy stopped and shook our hands quite vigorously and said thank you very much for the compliments.
It made our holiday and we still chat about it in our reminiscences. He was a great man and we felt genuinely good.