This page has been migrated from an earlier version of this site. Links and images may be broken.
The filling station where I worked at weekends was quiet - it’s closed now - and I often spent much of my shift reading anything from Judge Dredd comics to the The Worm Ourobouros to the unabridged Count of Monte Cristo - while using up my pay on sweets and listening to the top 40 countdown on the transistor radio.
I can’t remember what year it was when Ernie Wise and his wife Doreen Blythe stopped in to fill up their white Rolls Royce but I only worked at the filling station in the late ’70s, so I know it was when Morecambe and Wise were among the most famous faces in the country. Their show was a weekly family event for us. I doubt if the humour has aged well, but I know I laughed at the Anthony and Cleopatra sketch with Glenda Jackson until the pop I was drinking came right out of my nostrils. 28 million people watching their Christmas specials couldn’t all be wrong.
Of course, I recognized Ernie Wise as soon as I approached the car but I was cool about it. No fawning, because surely celebrities don’t need people gasping at them all the time. I just said “What’ll it be sir?” and I filled the tank. His wife needed cigarettes so they came in the shop and paid at the till. I was more polite than usual but otherwise I tried to act like I was just serving a regular customer.
…until they were almost out the door. Then I spoke up: “Excuse me sir?” He turned. “I just wanted to say thanks. You’ve given me and my family a lot of good times and a lot of enjoyment.” He stopped for a second, uncertain whether to offer an autograph or what I wanted, but then he just said “Oh. Thank you.” and I said “Pleasure to be of service” and off he went.
Actually that’s not what happened.
In reality I didn’t say anything at all as he went out the door and maybe that’s just as well. But looking back I do wish I’d spoken up. Every week for years Morecambe and Wise would come into our house. An hour later they would leave, and we were always in a better mood than when they entered. He deserved a thankyou for that, awkward or not.