For many years now I have served as the honorary historian for Elstree Studios and the other dream factories of Borehamwood. There are I guess three reasons for this role. Firstly, my dad was in the business so I grew up as part of that world. Secondly, I first visited Elstree Studios for the first time as a young kid, in 1960 and have accumulated many first-hand memories. Alas, many film books are written today by academics or people who have to rely on second-hand information.

Finally, I have been writing this column since 1977 and over the decades have visited countless film sets and conducted hundreds of interviews. My lasting regret is that I failed to record much of this material so it will vanish with me. For instance up until the late 1980s we used to have a yearly gathering of film veterans at Elstree Studios and the qualification was that they must have worked there before 1939. They told me wonderful tales of those pioneering days with the coming of sound, working with Hitchcock and so much more. Nothing was recorded and they are all gone now.

Then there are all the meetings and interviews with stars over the decades. Some I recorded on tape as a memory aid but I discarded that by about 1980 and relied on my memory. I am finding that a mistake now but things do stick in your mind and can be triggered if I am prompted.

I recall veteran star Anthony Quinn and meeting him on the set of The Greek Tycoon at Elstree. He made the odd request of asking me to take him to the local book shop so he could buy some copies of his autobiography to give to visiting journalists. I remember walking along the Borehamwood market with veteran comedy actress Liz Fraser and a lady approaching her and asking "did you used to be Liz Fraser?". That is a true story and I am still waiting for an excuse to jump into a London cab and exclaim "follow that car!". A cliche is often based on truth.

Often I became on first name terms with a star but I rarely if ever socialised with them so I don't consider myself as being a friend. That would have been nice, but I know my place.

I often used to sit in the executive restaurant at Elstree Studios in the 1980s meeting some star. It has now been converted into offices. On one occasion, slightly earlier in the 1970s, I recall being with a big female Hollywood star. In those days the windows overlooked the old Borehamwood Studio 70 cinema, which was then owned by EMI, as was the Studio. She noticed her film was being screened but the cinema had failed to give her top billing on the exterior marquee according to her contract. Before the meal ended the poor cinema manager was up a ladder altering the billing! That is showbiz.

I think my best meal ever was when the late, great Andrew Mitchell, then managing director of the studio, hosted a meal for myself, my friend Eva Hart, a Titanic survivor, Hollywood royalty Douglas Fairbanks Jr and Major General Sir George Burns, who had been the ADC to the last Viceroy of India. The tales that flowed over increasing amounts of alcohol, and such fascinating people. Alas they are all gone now.

Anyway I must get on and have my microwave meal to save cooking. If my memories in any way entertain you may I suggest you purchase a copy of my book, now available in paperback, called Elstree Confidential, from the Elstree Screen Heritage website or the Borehamwood Museum. The profits go to those two worthy causes and it is just the right size to prop up that wobbly bit of furniture you are enduring