The wee fella

Davy Jones of the Monkees has died suddenly at the early age of 66. The Monkees was a good kids TV show back in 1967 and brightened up saturday tea time. Their hit records (whoever's playing on them, whoever wrote them) are as much a part of the 60s as anyone elses and some are still enjoyable for what they are.
But I've noticed a lot of people coming forward today with stories of how nice Mr Jones was, and how he always had time for fans. Now, in no respect could I be called a fan, but one night in 1980 I happened to spend an hour in the company of Davy and other actors, backstage at a theatre he was appearing in pantomime at! (Long story!) Although he was clearly not enjoying the best of health and was rather conspicuously 'under the weather' it was still a bit of a buzz to meet him. And he was charm itself, very careful to include all our small group in a delightfully gossipy and indiscreet conversation and ask us about ourselves. He even managed the remarkable trick of adressing each of us by name throughout, and being as good an audience for our jokes and tales as we could wish for.  I knew it was just a technique that (some) famous people learn, but it's very effective and what harm does it do?
Last weekend, he was at a Hollywood Memorabilia Fair and I see he charmed and thrilled all the people there to whom he meant so much. So good on yer, little fellow, you did good.