Spike Milligan

When I was in my early 20s I met Spike Milligan. For him it was a nothing type of experience, for me it was intriguing. I was working in a famous (it was then, not now) hotel. The kind of place where celebs would travel too for a weekend in the sticks. It was said that Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor went there in the 60s, or so. Very possible.
I was working as the porter, taking bags to rooms - pretty much the lowest paid job in the place, but I took all the tips. Some days these could double my day's pay. I would come home and empty my pockets of loose change and the occasional note. I remember getting £50 from someone once - it's a lot of money now but back in 1989 it was a small fortune.
One day Spike Milligan turned up at reception looking ashen faced. I was called by the receptionist, as usual. I knew who he was, but my mind didn't really react as I had no particular loyalty to the man. I knew he was a funny man, but he was from a different era - I was more into Monthy Python and the Young Ones. I took Spike's bags up to his room and showed him the mini bar, the light switches and the bathroom - all of which he took in quite seriously. I turned to leave when he said: "I would prefer it if just you could keep an eye on things." I didn't know what to say, but I think he meant he didn't want to see anyone else from the hotel during his stay. I later found he suffered from depression and when it got really bad he would leave, on his own, and hole up somewhere to get over it.
For the next few days I brought him meals to his room, fixed his radiator and generally dropped things off that he needed. We never spoke more than few words to each other - and nothing personal. It worked really well, I have not forgotten it. It has remained with me, really, because of the terrific normality of it all.