I sat next to...

[ShackUp]

...Germaine Greer in Victoria Station this evening. Really wanted to tell her I supported her gender critical stance, but was too scared

I met the poet Simon Armitage on a train. We chatted about kids and books etc (I was a teacher). He is a lovely man.

Jimmy Pursey from Sham 69 sat next to me and my sister on a train when we were teenagers. Of course we had no idea who he was. He said “I hope we don’t CRASH!” Then told us about some gig he’d played in .. Japan, maybe? .. where he held up a coat hanger and said “This is fashion!”

We told the guy who was meeting us at Waterloo that some nutter called Jimmy Pursey had been talking shit to us. Our friend was distraught not to have seen him, as it turned out he was a massive Sham 69 fan.

I like Anthony Head but now I'm worried he might be a bit of a train geek.

More seriously, I don't agree with everything Germaine Greer says but she's strong and doesn't compromise her beliefs to make other people feel better so I do admire her.

Not on a train, but a couple of years ago - in Venice - I bumped into Michael Palin and his wife Helen.

I DID have a chat with him and he was quite as charming and lovely as I hoped.

Break, for some reason 'a rough pub' has really made me giggle.

Out of interest, what was AH drinking? I've got him as a vodka and tonic man.

Jumping on the Anthony Head appreciation society - I've been to his house! OK, so I was there meeting with Sarah Fisher - his partner - but he was there because I heard him talking to the kids while I was in the loo!

I’ve met michael palin and he is absolutely delightful. Very good speaker too if you ever get the chance to hear him.

Once sat opposite Alan bennet on the train. He was engrossed in a book. I left him to it.

Oh and I often saw Alastair Campbell in tescos. He’s always extremely polite to checkout staff and wears coloured cords as befits the Edinburgh Gentleman type :)

Alastair darling!!! Ye gods. I need tea.

Very intelligent woman, mega-brain type. Always in awe of her brain.
Of course I love her 'men cannot be women' stance.
But I think she is a bit too liberal-feminist on her views of heterosexuality. Shame really.

Ah G1ngerpig. Perhaps one day you will put a foot wrong with your trans buddies, then see what treatment you get. It won't be pretty.

I'd far rather bump into Alastair Darling and his magnificent eyebrows than Alastair Campbell!

I sat at the same table as Rik Mayall on a train all the way from London to Leeds many years ago. Was star-struck & chatted a little, but mostly snoozed as I was feeling quite ill - discovered it was pneumonia later that night when I was rushed into hospital by ambulance, struggling to breathe... Still, was very happy I'd got to meet a comedy hero of mine

I once got on a train with Dennis Skinner and Ann Widdecombe. I sat with Dennis for the whole journey - he was very entertaining - but Ann refused to join us.

I see Anne Widdecombe a lot in my workplace, she's v rude

Me too @anonymousbird - was a bit sad when I saw the under offer sign (I’ve been looking at on rightmove and fantasising about buying - it’s gorgeous).

Don’t always agree with her either - her stance on the metoo campaign left a bit to be desired, but by god she’s an amazing and formidable woman and feminist in many ways.

That's been my experience too, PinkSquash - it's odd how she's been reinvented as an eccentric national treasure.

I have never met Germaine Greer or Anthony Head :(

Nor me. Nor Anne widdecombe, nor rik Mayall.
:(

DH regularly sees Rory McGrath on the train to/from Cambridge. Often pissed. RB, that is, not DH.

PS. @CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger - I agree the house looks lovely! Took a while to sell though, only after that big spread in the Sunday Times....

@Myimaginarycathasfleas Nick Knowles queues behind me in The Body Shop once. He looked like someone who was aware that everyone knew who he was, but were pretending they hadn't noticed him