Having been a life-time fan of legendary Hollywood actor Charlton Heston, who sadly passed away last weekend, I not only had the chance to meet him, I also helped him out on one memorable occasion.

It was in the 1990s and Mr Heston was in Lincoln to appear with his wife Lydia, in Love Letters at the city's Theatre Royal.

Moments before he was due to go on stage for the opening night he realised he had not brought a tie with him.

When I arrived at the theatre assistant house manager, Lesley Swaby, was frantically trying to find someone wearing a plain tie, and as I was wearing one that fitted the bill, she made straight for me.

She asked me if I would be prepared to loan it to the star of the play for the performance – something that really stopped me in my tracks.

At first I thought it was a wind-up, but she was quite serious.

Apparently, staff had been out combing the streets of Lincoln trying to find one that matched his grey suit, but they were unable to find a shop that was open. I was wearing a plain blue one,which I duly handed over, still convinced someone who knew I was a fan was having me on.

I found my seat, by this time feeling quite excited, wondering what would happen next and then the curtain went up, and lo and behold the Oscar-winning actor was indeed wearing my tie.

Following the performance he duly returned my tie.

"I am very grateful to you for your kind gesture," he said as he shook my hand and handed over a signed photograph. "You certainly saved the show."

Meeting Mr Heston, if only for a brief moment was something I will never forget, especially now he is no longer with us.
He was a big man with a big reputation for always having time for his fans. A star in every sense of the word, he will be sadly missed.