The Avengers Forever: Fan Tales

	Fan Tales Page 6 of 9

Cathy Rang the Doorbell
by Ian Beazley

It was back on August 11th, 1999, when the door bell of my house rang out at around 11.30 am. I took a deep breath and opened the door. There standing in front of me with one finger still on the bell was, as I expected, the one and only Cathy Gale. My mouth dropped open!

I had been asked by Channel 4 to shoot a short piece for their day time TV show "Collectors Lot" in which they wanted to feature my Avengers collection. Honor Blackman was to do the interview. It was decided to film the item at my home rather than move all my collection to an Avengers location in Elstree, and Honor Blackman had agreed to travel down from London to my house for the day to film the item.

She was due to arrive at 10.30, an hour after the film crew, but as Murphy's Law would have it her chauffeur- driven car had broken down and she arrived an hour late. She had apparently spent the hour standing in front of the car just off the motorway, frantically waving her handbag in the air to oncoming traffic to warn them of the stricken vehicle. Still she arrived in good spirits.

After a coffee and chat in the kitchen, she made her way to the spare room to change and be made up for the camera (she looking terrific before but looked stunning when she returned). I was already sat in position in the room that had been turned into the "Avengers Interview Set" for the day with Avengers memorabilia from floor to ceiling. With cameras, lights and film crew all around and Honor Blackman in the next room, I was I have to admit very nervous. Luckily my doctor had given me four tablets to calm me down for the event!—one to be taken the day before Honor arrived, two on the actual day and the final one the day after. Needless to say, I popped all the remaining three at around 9.00 that morning! When Honor found out about the pills she laughed, placed her hand on my on shoulder and said, "Don't worry, Ian, it's a piece of cake. I'll hold your hand all the way through it." Occasionally (when I assume I looked a little frantic) Honor would playfully call out, "someone get Ian his pills." After lunch of tuna sandwiches and more coffee, Honor needed to pop into town, so I got to drive her myself in my convertible. Not many fans can say they have taken Cathy Gale for a spin in their car. I desperately wanted to take the roof down to get the real Avengers feel, but she had her hair to think about and I mine :-) There was, after all, more filming to complete. During the short drive to town, Honor told me about her judo escapades on the hard studio floor and how even now her stomach turns whenever she hears that lead- in Avengers fighting music. She also said that she felt that the original Avengers Johnny Dankworth theme was nicer than the Laurie Johnson version. Before she got out of the vehicle, Honor Signed the dashboard in bright gold pen, "To Ian love and best wishes Honor Blackman Cathy Gale." Needless to say if ever I sell the car it will be minus the dashboard.

After completing the filming, Honor gave me my very own signing session where she autographed some of my favourite items of Cathy Gale memorabilia. By 4.30 pm I was walking her up the drive to her waiting car, and she was back on her way to London. I closed my front door totally stunned that "THE" Cathy Gale had actually been to "MY" house. Ten minutes later, when I was just getting used to the fact it had actually happened, the door bell rung again. I opened it up and there stood Cathy Gale—my mouth dropped open! She had left her glasses in the lounge!