Articles
I have eight articles currently, the History of Music, the History of Midi, the History of my Musical Creations, the History of my BBC Micro Music, a Brief History of the Single, Technology and Media in 1996, Autographs and Tomorrow's World - The Jam Spreading Myth.
In the 70s and 80s I used to collect autographs. I would write to many television programmes or presenters asking for a signed photo and I would get a picture back and sometimes a letter. I've scanned in quite a few of the ones I had and I thought I would give some details about how I got them. Don't forget to check out the links in the text to video clips on YouTube.
Blue Peter
I first started with John Noakes and Lesley Judd. I had missed the Peter Purves/Valerie Singleton presenters, but I would write every time a new presenter joined the team. Usually it was one photo per signature, but they sometimes did a group shot and had everybody sign the photo. I was particularly pleased with the the one of Simon Groom with Goldie as a puppy, and when I got the group photo you could see how much Goldie had grown. I also watched Magpie on ITV so I got their autographs as well (I missed getting Susan Strank's autograph though).
![Letter from Biddy Baxter Letter from Biddy Baxter](thumbs/Letter_from_Biddy_Baxter.jpg)
![John Noakes John Noakes](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_John_Noakes.jpg)
![Lesley Judd Lesley Judd](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Lesley_Judd.jpg)
![Simon Groom and Goldie Simon Groom and Goldie](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Simon_Groom_and_Goldie.jpg)
![Christopher Wenner, Lesley Judd and Simon Groom Christopher Wenner, Lesley Judd and Simon Groom](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Christopher_Wenner_Lesley_Judd_Simon_Groom.jpg)
![Simon Groom, Tina Heath and Christopher Wenner Simon Groom, Tina Heath and Christopher Wenner](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Simon_Groom_Tina_Heath_Christopher_Wenner.jpg)
![Tina Heath Tina Heath](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Tina_Heath.jpg)
![Peter Duncan Peter Duncan](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Peter_Duncan.jpg)
![Sarah Greene Sarah Greene](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Sarah_Greene.jpg)
![Caron Keating, Mark Curry and Janet Ellis Caron Keating, Mark Curry and Janet Ellis](thumbs/Blue_Peter_Autographs_-_Caron_Keating_Mark_Curry_Janet_Ellis.jpg)
![Jenny Hanley Jenny Hanley](thumbs/Magpie_Autographs_-_Jenny_Hanley.jpg)
![Mick Robertson Mick Robertson](thumbs/Magpie_Autographs_-_Mick_Robertson.jpg)
![Tommy Boyd Tommy Boyd](thumbs/Magpie_Autographs_-_Tommy_Boyd.jpg)
When they announced that Carrie Fisher was going to appear on Blue Peter the following week, I wrote to the team asking for her autograph. It was a pleasant surprise when I got Mark Hamill's as well as he wasn't due to appear on the show. You can see their appearance on Blue Peter via YouTube.
![Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher](thumbs/Autograph_-_Mark_Hamill_and_Carrie_Fisher.jpg)
![Mark Wing-Davy Mark Wing-Davy](thumbs/Autograph_-_Mark_Wing-Davy.jpg)
I also got Mark Wing-Davy's autograph the same way, when they were going to have a item about the mechanical head used for the television series The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, where he played Zaphod Bebblebrox.
I watched a lot of children's TV, so I got Tony Hart (and Morph) from Take Hart, Johnny Ball (from Think of a Number) and the Swap Shop team, along with one of the Swap Shop stickers.
![Tony Hart Tony Hart](thumbs/Autograph_-_Tony_Hart.jpg)
![Morph Morph](thumbs/Autograph_-_Morph.jpg)
![Johnny Ball Johnny Ball](thumbs/Autograph_-_Johnny_Ball.jpg)
![John Craven John Craven](thumbs/Swap_Shop_Autographs_-_John_Craven.jpg)
![Keith Chegwin Keith Chegwin](thumbs/Swap_Shop_Autographs_-_Keith_Chegwin.jpg)
![Maggie Philbin Maggie Philbin](thumbs/Swap_Shop_Autographs_-_Maggie_Philbin.jpg)
![Noel Edmonds Noel Edmonds](thumbs/Swap_Shop_Autographs_-_Noel_Edmonds.jpg)
![Swap_Shop_Sticker Swap Shop Sticker](thumbs/Swap_Shop_Sticker.jpg)
Comedians
I enjoyed comedy, so I started with a few comedians who were on the telly at the time. Les Dawson put a personal note on his, but the photo was folded when I got it in the post. I seem to have two from Matthew Kelly, along with a letter from him. It did get a bit annoying when you asked for a the team's autographs and only get one. Cannon and Ball sent a nice photo (as you can see), and Mike Yarwood sent a good note along with a signed photo.
![Les Dawson Les Dawson](thumbs/Autograph_-_Les_Dawson.jpg)
![Ray Allan Ray Allan](thumbs/Autograph_-_Ray_Allan.jpg)
![Mike Yarwood Mike Yarwood](thumbs/Autograph_-_Mike_Yarwood.jpg)
![Note from Mike Yarwood Note from Mike Yarwood.](thumbs/Note_from_Mike_Yarwood.jpg )
![William Franklin William Franklin](thumbs/Autograph_-_William_Franklin.jpg)
![Game for A Laugh Team Game for A Laugh Team](thumbs/Autograph_-_Game_for_A_Laugh_Team.jpg)
![Matthew Kelly Matthew Kelly](thumbs/Autograph_-_Matthew_Kelly.jpg)
![Letter from Matthew Kelly Letter from Matthew Kelly](thumbs/Letter_from_Matthew_Kelly.jpg)
![Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball](thumbs/Autographs_-_Tommy_Cannon_and_Bobby_Ball.jpg)
Not The Nine O'Clock News was a favourite programme and I wrote to each member of the classic team individually. It was interesting to see how they all replied. Mel Smith sent a large photo, Pamela Stephenson eventually sent a small picture with a humourous letter from her management company appolgising for the delay, Rowan Atkinson sent a rather strange picture and Griff Rhys Jones didn't have any photos, so sent me a letter explaining that instead.
![Mel Smith Mel Smith](thumbs/Autograph_-_Mel_Smith.jpg)
![Letter_from_AMP Letter_from_AMP](thumbs/Letter_from_AMP.jpg)
![Pamela Stephenson Pamela Stephenson](thumbs/Autograph_-_Pamela_Stephenson.jpg)
![Rowan Atkinson Rowan Atkinson](thumbs/Autograph_-_Rowan_Atkinson.jpg)
![Letter from Griff Rhys Jones Letter from Griff Rhys Jones](thumbs/Letter_from_Griff_Rhys_Jones.jpg)
I have two of Kenny Everett as I wrote to him care of Thames television when he was doing the Kenny Everett Video Show. I knew he was on Capital Radio and I asked for a badge (as I collected them as well) and he wrote back saying that I would have to write to Capital for that, which I duly did.
![Kenny Everett Kenny Everett](thumbs/Autograph_-_Kenny_Everett.jpg)
![Thames Television Compliments Slip Thames Television Compliments Slip](thumbs/Thames_Television_Compliments_Slip.jpg)
![Kenny Everett Kenny Everett](thumbs/Autograph_-_Kenny_EverettCR.jpg)
Trevor Banister and Mollie Sugden opened a knitting store nearby, so I went along to get their autographs. This was one of the few times I actually met the person I was getting the autograph from. The only other time this happened was when I went to a charity event and met Roy Kinnear.
![Trevor Bannister and Mollie Sugden Trevor Bannister and Mollie Sugden](thumbs/Autographs_-_Trevor_Bannister_and_Mollie_Sugden.jpg)
Musicians
A few musical artists I have include Neil Innes, who had his TV programme the Innes Book of Records on BBC 2. Another personalised autograph and as I had asked about getting the music from the show he replied about the new album (which I bought). Both tracks mentioned in the letter 'Ape Man' and 'Eurovision' appear on the recent collection Le Duck's Box Set released this year as 'Ungawa' and 'Mr. Eurovision'. I haven't included Lene Lovich as she sent a postcard with her signature printed on it, much like Tom Baker did when I wrote to him.
![Neil Innes Neil Innes](thumbs/Autograph_-_Neil_Innes.jpg)
![Letter from Neil Innes Letter from Neil Innes](thumbs/Letter_from_Neil_Innes.jpg)
I was an avid vinyl collector and one which I has was a 10 inch white vinyl of Basia, who used to sing with Matt Bianco. It had a double groove but I couldn't tell the difference between the two tracks on the one side, so I wrote to her to ask about it. Along with the nice signed photo she sent me a long letter explaining the differences, and Epic Records (her record company) also sent a biography on her.
![Basia Basia](thumbs/Autograph_-_Basia.jpg)
![Letter from Basia Page 1 Letter from Basia Page 1](thumbs/Letter_from_Basia_-_Page_1.jpg)
![Letter from Basia Page 2 Letter from Basia Page 2](thumbs/Letter_from_Basia_-_Page_2.jpg)
![Basia Biography Basia Biography](thumbs/Basia_Biography.jpg)
The Dean Martin autograph was one I got for my mum. We knew he was performing in the Apollo Victoria theatre in London in 1983 and so wrote to him via them. It was a while until we got a reply by which time he had returned to the USA but he sent the large photo and addressesd to my mum, who was very pleased.
![Dean Martin Dean Martin](thumbs/Autograph_-_Dean_Martin.jpg)
Newscasters
When I wrote to people I would always say that I enjoyed seeing them on whatever programme they were on, and this applied to the newscasters as well. I got a personal reply from Richard Baker, and a short letter from Anna Ford saying she was glad that I enjoyed watching News at Ten!
![Richard Whitmore and Moira Stuart Richard Whitmore and Moira Stuart](thumbs/Autograph_-_Newscasters_Richard_Whitmore_and_Moira_Stuart.jpg)
![Richard Baker Richard Baker](thumbs/Autograph_-_Newscaster_Richard_Baker.jpg)
![Angela Rippon Angela Rippon](thumbs/Autograph_-_Newscaster_Angela_Rippon.jpg)
![Jan Leeming Jan Leeming](thumbs/Autograph_-_Newscaster_Jan_Leeming.jpg)
![Anna Ford Anna Ford](thumbs/Autograph_-_Newscaster_Anna_Ford.jpg)
![Letter from Anna Ford Letter from Anna Ford](thumbs/Letter_from_Anna_Ford.jpg )
Doctor Who
Now I was a bit disappointed when I wrote to Tom Baker to get his autograph as I got back a postcard with his signature printed on it, so it wasn't genuine, but when I tried again with Peter Davison I got a reply from his management company giving details of him appearing in Holding the Fort and Sink or Swim as well as Doctor Who. He was a busy actor at the time!
![Tom Baker Tom Baker](thumbs/Autograph_-_Tom_Baker.jpg)
![Peter Davison Peter Davison](thumbs/Autograph_-_Peter_Davison.jpg)
![Letter from John Mahoney Management Letter from John Mahoney Management](thumbs/Letter_from_John_Mahoney_Management.jpg)
Disc Jockeys
I wrote to several DJs, saying I listened to their show, but if I had done I wouldn't have had time to do anything else. Radio 2 had a standard format of a large black and white picture, which didn't really leave much room for an actual signature. Some DJs were under their own management company and had colour photos.
![Dave Lee Travis Dave Lee Travis](thumbs/Autograph_-_Dave_Lee_Travis.jpg)
![David Hamilton David Hamilton](thumbs/Autograph_-_David_Hamilton.jpg)
![Jimmy Saville Jimmy Saville](thumbs/Autograph_-_Jimmy_Saville.jpg)
![Mike Read Mike Read](thumbs/Autograph_-_Mike_Read.jpg)
![Paul Gambaccini Paul Gambaccini](thumbs/Autograph_-_Paul_Gambaccini.jpg)
![Peter Powell Peter Powell](thumbs/Autograph_-_Peter_Powell.jpg)
![Pete Murray Pete Murray](thumbs/Autograph_-_Pete_Murray.jpg)
![Terry Wogan Terry Wogan](thumbs/Autograph_-_Terry_Wogan.jpg)
![Tony Blackburn Tony Blackburn](thumbs/Autograph_-_Tony_Blackburn.jpg)
Prime Ministers
I only got two, Jim Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher and I think I wrote the same letter to both, saying our family were Labour/Conservative supporters (delete as applicable). The personal note from Margaret Thatcher was good, but there's nothing like getting a letter from 10 Downing Street.
![Jim Callaghan Jim Callaghan](thumbs/Autograph_-_Jim_Callaghan.jpg)
![Letter from 10 Downing Street Letter from 10 Downing Street_2_Feb_1979](thumbs/Letter_from_10_Downing_Street_2_Feb_1979.jpg)
![Margaret Thatcher Margaret Thatcher](thumbs/Autograph_-_Margaret_Thatcher.jpg)
![Letter from 10 Downing Street Letter from 10 Downing Street](thumbs/Letter_from_10_Downing_Street_12_May_1981.jpg)
![Letter from Margaret Thatcher Letter from Margaret Thatcher](thumbs/Letter_from_Margaret_Thatcher.jpg)
A special mention should go to the autograph I got of Jenny Agutter. I shall forgive her mispelling my name (as quite a few of the stars did, despite me clearly spelling my name on my letter to them) as she wrote back a lovely letter as well. Her handwriting is most impressive, and she is one of only five people who truly wrote back to me, rather than signing a typed letter.
![Jenny Agutter Jenny Agutter](thumbs/Autograph_-_Jenny_Agutter.jpg)
![Letter from Jenny Agutter Letter from Jenny Agutter](thumbs/Letter_from_Jenny_Agutter.jpg)
Everyone else
Breakfast TV had just started so I wrote to the programme and got five colour photos which the team had signed. I tried the same with Tomorrow's World and I got a nice black and white photo of the team but no one actually signed it! I also scanned an old letter I got from Pebble Mill, unfortunately not signed by any of the presenters, thanking me for writing to the programme, with an added note about the Wombles.
![Michael Aspel Michael Aspel](thumbs/Autograph_-_Michael_Aspel.jpg)
![Debbie Rix Debbie Rix](thumbs/BBC_Breakfast_Time_Autographs_-_Debbie_Rix.jpg)
![Francis Wilson Francis Wilson](thumbs/BBC_Breakfast_Time_Autographs_-_Francis_Wilson.jpg)
![Frank Bough Frank Bough](thumbs/BBC_Breakfast_Time_Autographs_-_Frank_Bough.jpg)
![Nick Ross Nick Ross](thumbs/BBC_Breakfast_Time_Autographs_-_Nick_Ross.jpg)
![Selina Scott Selina Scott](thumbs/BBC_Breakfast_Time_Autographs_-_Selina_Scott.jpg)
![Letter from Pebble Mill Letter from Pebble Mill](thumbs/Letter_from_Pebble_Mill.jpg)
![Tomorrow's World Photo Tomorrow's World Photo](thumbs/Tomorrow's_World_Photo.jpg)