RIP Roger Moore

breakstuff

joeyowen said:

Robbed from a guy called Marc Haynes (Shared by Dave on here)

As an seven year old in about 1983, in the days before First Class Lounges at airports, I was with my grandad in Nice Airport and saw Roger Moore sitting at the departure gate, reading a paper. I told my granddad I'd just seen James Bond and asked if we could go over so I could get his autograph. My grandad had no idea who James Bond or Roger Moore were, so we walked over and he popped me in front of Roger Moore, with the words "my grandson says you're famous. Can you sign this?"

As charming as you'd expect, Roger asks my name and duly signs the back of my plane ticket, a fulsome note full of best wishes. I'm ecstatic, but as we head back to our seats, I glance down at the signature. It's hard to decipher it but it definitely doesn't say 'James Bond'. My grandad looks at it, half figures out it says 'Roger Moore' - I have absolutely no idea who that is, and my hearts sinks. I tell my grandad he's signed it wrong, that he's put someone else's name - so my grandad heads back to Roger Moore, holding the ticket which he's only just signed.

I remember staying by our seats and my grandad saying "he says you've signed the wrong name. He says your name is James Bond." Roger Moore's face crinkled up with realisation and he beckoned me over. When I was by his knee, he leant over, looked from side to side, raised an eyebrow and in a hushed voice said to me, "I have to sign my name as 'Roger Moore' because otherwise...Blofeld might find out I was here." He asked me not to tell anyone that I'd just seen James Bond, and he thanked me for keeping his secret. I went back to our seats, my nerves absolutely jangling with delight. My grandad asked me if he'd signed 'James Bond.' No, I said. I'd got it wrong. I was working with James Bond now.

Many, many years later, I was working as a scriptwriter on a recording that involved UNICEF, and Roger Moore was doing a piece to camera as an ambassador. He was completely lovely and while the cameramen were setting up, I told him in passing the story of when I met him in Nice Airport. He was happy to hear it, and he had a chuckle and said "Well, I don't remember but I'm glad you got to meet James Bond." So that was lovely.

And then he did something so brilliant. After the filming, he walked past me in the corridor, heading out to his car - but as he got level, he paused, looked both ways, raised an eyebrow and in a hushed voice said, "Of course I remember our meeting in Nice. But I didn't say anything in there, because those cameramen - any one of them could be working for Blofeld."

I was as delighted at 30 as I had been at 7. What a man. What a tremendous man.

What a lovely story.Such class.

Thanks for sharing Joey.

Dominic

Yes ,a wonderful and charming anecdote ……..I bet somebody has dined out on that many times

StormshadowGuitars

RIP Sir Roger
Hope he's rocking that Safari suit up there

Schnozz

joeyowen said:

Robbed from a guy called Marc Haynes (Shared by Dave on here)

As an seven year old in about 1983, in the days before First Class Lounges at airports, I was with my grandad in Nice Airport and saw Roger Moore sitting at the departure gate, reading a paper. I told my granddad I'd just seen James Bond and asked if we could go over so I could get his autograph. My grandad had no idea who James Bond or Roger Moore were, so we walked over and he popped me in front of Roger Moore, with the words "my grandson says you're famous. Can you sign this?"

As charming as you'd expect, Roger asks my name and duly signs the back of my plane ticket, a fulsome note full of best wishes. I'm ecstatic, but as we head back to our seats, I glance down at the signature. It's hard to decipher it but it definitely doesn't say 'James Bond'. My grandad looks at it, half figures out it says 'Roger Moore' - I have absolutely no idea who that is, and my hearts sinks. I tell my grandad he's signed it wrong, that he's put someone else's name - so my grandad heads back to Roger Moore, holding the ticket which he's only just signed.

I remember staying by our seats and my grandad saying "he says you've signed the wrong name. He says your name is James Bond." Roger Moore's face crinkled up with realisation and he beckoned me over. When I was by his knee, he leant over, looked from side to side, raised an eyebrow and in a hushed voice said to me, "I have to sign my name as 'Roger Moore' because otherwise...Blofeld might find out I was here." He asked me not to tell anyone that I'd just seen James Bond, and he thanked me for keeping his secret. I went back to our seats, my nerves absolutely jangling with delight. My grandad asked me if he'd signed 'James Bond.' No, I said. I'd got it wrong. I was working with James Bond now.

Many, many years later, I was working as a scriptwriter on a recording that involved UNICEF, and Roger Moore was doing a piece to camera as an ambassador. He was completely lovely and while the cameramen were setting up, I told him in passing the story of when I met him in Nice Airport. He was happy to hear it, and he had a chuckle and said "Well, I don't remember but I'm glad you got to meet James Bond." So that was lovely.

And then he did something so brilliant. After the filming, he walked past me in the corridor, heading out to his car - but as he got level, he paused, looked both ways, raised an eyebrow and in a hushed voice said, "Of course I remember our meeting in Nice. But I didn't say anything in there, because those cameramen - any one of them could be working for Blofeld."

I was as delighted at 30 as I had been at 7. What a man. What a tremendous man.

Made my day - Cheers @joeyowen ;

joeyowen

I loved reading it, well worth the reshare 

Bellycaster

Sad to hear this, he had a great character. He didn't take himself too seriously, I can imagine he was great fun to be around.

exocet

I went to  China in the early 90's and visited the Forbidden City. In those days you were given "Walkmans" if you wanted a guide in English. Roger Moore provided an excellent commentary as I roamed around. Almost made it feel like being at home.

victorludorum

ICBM said:

RIP .

Not my favourite Bond, although he was the first one I saw - in The Spy Who Loved Me - but an all-round gentleman and a slightly better actor than he was probably given credit for or often used as.

I think The Wild Geese was probably his best film.

Indeed it was. The scene where he sorts out the drug pusher is a classic:

"I hope you've got a big appetite sonny, 'cos it's all yours! Eat it! Shovel it down!"

Bellycaster

victorludorum said:

ICBM said:

RIP .

Not my favourite Bond, although he was the first one I saw - in The Spy Who Loved Me - but an all-round gentleman and a slightly better actor than he was probably given credit for or often used as.

I think The Wild Geese was probably his best film.

Indeed it was. The scene where he sorts out the drug pusher is a classic:

"I hope you've got a big appetite sonny, 'cos it's all yours! Eat it! Shovel it down!"

That was a great scene. Re his other non Bond films, I rather liked "The Man Who Haunted Himself" I love these old forgotten Horror Films.

Bellycaster

victorludorum said:

ICBM said:

RIP .

Not my favourite Bond, although he was the first one I saw - in The Spy Who Loved Me - but an all-round gentleman and a slightly better actor than he was probably given credit for or often used as.

I think The Wild Geese was probably his best film.

Indeed it was. The scene where he sorts out the drug pusher is a classic:

"I hope you've got a big appetite sonny, 'cos it's all yours! Eat it! Shovel it down!"

That was a great scene. Re his other non Bond films, I rather liked "The Man Who Haunted Himself" I love these old forgotten Horror Films.

breezytele

I chuckled when Tim Brooke Taylor said Roger Moore's mum "gave birth to an 8lb eyebrow attached to a very small baby".  

dogload

Apart from Live and Let Die and The Man With The Golden Gun, I don't think he did Bond many favours (another Dalton fan here!) but I loved The saint and The Persuaders when I was a kid.
I also remember seeing The Man Who Haunted Himself one day when off school 'ill'. Brilliant!


But definitely a great character and a sad loss.