Celebrity portfolio

Listed below are some of my TV shows and celebrity photos.

	Myself with Olympic Gold Medallist Swimmer, David Wilkie(Simpsons-in-the-Strand, London, 1995)
	Myself with Anneka Rice after we had recorded ITV's "You Bet" in London 1987.
	Myself with Cheryl Baker after we had recorded BBC tv's "Record Breakers 25th Anniversary Show" in London 1996 (My niece, Claire is on the left).
	Myself with Paul Daniels after we had recorded BBC tv's "Q.E.D." at "The Greenwood Theatre", London 1987.
	Myself with ex-"Guinness Book" editor, Norris McWhirter and my niece, Claire, after we had recorded BBC tv's "Record Breakers 25th Anniversary Show" in London 1996.
	Myself with Bruce Forsyth after we had recorded ITV's "You Bet" in London 1987.
	Myself with ex-"Guinness Book" editor Norris McWhirter and Roy Castle at a "Guinness Book of Records" promotion at the Lord's Banqueting Suite, London .
	Myself with Roy Castle at rehearsals for BBC tv's "Record Breakers"in London 1987. My appearance on this show sparked of a memory "revolution" as it was seen by the then unknown Dominic O'Brien, who was inspired to devise his own memory strategies to such an extent that he was to become one of the all-time greats of memory. (More details on my "memory feats" webpage). Dominic and I still keep in touch and we get on very well, having a mutual and honest respect for each other.
	Myself with Roy Castle and World Famous Memory Man, Dominic O'Brien at the Lord's Banqueting Suite, London (1992)
	"Record Breakers" presenter Roy Castle shuffles the playing cards before my attempt to memorise them in under 3 minutes. The ruling was I was allowed to see each card only once before I recited them from memory. If I made three errors or less it was going to be a new world memory record. Fortunately I memorised them in 2 minutes 59 seconds with only one error, thereby setting an official new world record. On the left is Norris McWhirter, who was the "Guinness Book of Records" editor at the time. (BBC tv's "Record Breakers" 1987)
	Happy scenes after my successful record attempt including a bonus congratulatory kiss from Cheryl Baker, former singer with chart-topping group Bucks Fizz. As this was Cheryl's debut as co-presenter of "Record Breakers", she was more nervous than I was. It would have been a disastrous start for her if I had failed. I'll never forget the great time I had after the show when Norris, Roy, Cheryl, and a nursing colleague of mine, Tom Butler, celebrated with a candle-lit meal and wine at a pub near the BBC's Shepherd's Bush studios. I was to meet Norris, Roy and Cheryl a few times on other tv shows in the 1990's. Norris even came to see me up here in Middlesbrough. Sadly, Norris and Roy have now passed away, but memories never die.
	Memory expert Tony Buzan and "Record Breakers" presenters Kriss Akabusi and Cheryl Baker join in my celebrations after I had set a new world record by reciting from memory 18 random digits after they had been flashed on a screen for 4 seconds. The previous known world record was 11 digits. This was my third "Record Breakers" show with Cheryl. (BBC tv 1997)
	Being interviewed by Tyne Tees Television presenter Andy Kluz after I had entered the record books by memorising 18 digits in 2 seconds, beating my previous record of 4 seconds. (North-East Tonight 2005)
	Myself against fellow Memory Man, Dominic O'Brien in a "speed card memorising contest" at the Lord's Banqueting Suite, London (1992). Adjudicating is Raymond Keene OBE, International Grandmaster of Chess. I memorised the pack of cards in 2 min 9 sec with no errors and Dominic memorised in a fantastic 1 min 18 secs with only one error. We decided to call it a draw! Nowadays Dominic can memorise a pack in around an incredible 30 secs!!
	Dominic O'Brien deep in thought before he recites the cards from memory, as I reach the end of my card memorisation. Looking on is International Chess Grandmaster, Raymond Keene OBE.(See previous photo for details).
	The world's TV cameras are focussed on myself and Dominic O'Brien at Lord's Banqueting Suite, London. An excerpt was also shown on the UK's ITN news.
	Myself with Magic Circle President David Berglas after we had recorded BBC tv's "Bodymatters"in London 1986.
	Myself with Jan Ravens (who was later to become one of the UK's top female impressionists) and singer Kenny Lynch on ITV's "Just Amazing". This was my first national TV appearance. I was tested on my knowledge of 20,013 places of Pi decimals which was then a world memory record. Leeds 1983.
	Cyril Knowles (ex Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur and England defender) about to be tackled by(believe it or not)--me!. This was a Charity Match at St.Luke's Hospital, Middlesbrough (where I was nursing at the time). The score: Middlesbrough X1 9 St.Luke's Staff 1. Cyril Knowles was a coach for Middlesbrough Juniors when this match was played in 1982.
	Myself (on the left)with Brian Clough (then Nottingham Forest Manager) and friends at the Nottingham Forest Social Club in 1984. Brian (who was born in Middlesbrough) had heard we were in the Social Club and called in to meet us. I'll never forget his first words: "Boro lads,eh--I hope you didn't pinch anything on the way down!". He bought myself and friends drinks and chatted with us for around half an hour "taking the Mickey" out of my previously proud memory man status with such remarks as" I hope you're a better nurse than you are a memory man!" etc. My friend, Bill Brown (with the striped sweater) was probably Brian's No1 fan, having followed his career since his footballing days in the late 1950's keeping scrapbooks and he often corresponded with Brian. Bill has some precious Brian Clough memorabilia, including some items given to him by Brian himself.
	Myself with Brian Clough and my friend Bill Brown in Brian's Nottingham Forest Office. Brian had given us complimentary tickets for a European Cup match and also got his players to sign a football to raise money for a ward at St. Luke's Hospital where I worked at the time. Brian also helped organise a match between a Nottingham Forest X1 versus Pallister Park (a local league side from Middlesbrough) at the Nottingham Forest Training Ground and also a guided tour to see the trophies and facilities at Nottingham Forest's Stadium (The City Ground). We were also allowed to go on to the football pitch. A buffet was also laid on for good measure. For the Pallister Park lads (and the dozens of family and friends they brought with them) this was a dream come true as, at the time, Nottingham Forest were a massive name in Europe. By the way Pallister won 5-1! I still see some of the lads who played that day and they tell me"it was the best day of their lives".
	Photos from my 6 pack of cards shuffled together, memory world record on Japanese TV's "Guinness Book of World Records"in 1985. Details on my "memory feats" webpage. Also see www.recordholders.org/en/list/memory-cards.html
	Myself with presenter Reinhold Beckman on German tv's "Guinness Book of Records Show 1998
	Myself with Thailand TV celebrities on a show called "Tarm Pai Doo" (I See You). A "record breakers" show. (1992)
	Photo (taken from a video) of my appearance on Tyne Tees Tv's Ethiopia Appeal to raise funds to aid the famine relief in Ethiopia in 1984. From left to right are actress Debbie Arnold (who was a regular on our TV screens at the time), ex Middlesbrough and England footballer Cyril Knowles, Presenter Alan Taylor, myself, and ex Middlesbrough footballer, Billy Horner. They are laughing because a viewer phoned in and asked me to name which teams took part in the 1906 FA Cup Final and I replied ,"Do you want me to name the players as well?!" Of course, I can name every player who played in the FA Cup Finals. (Details on another page on this website).
	Myself with ex Middlesbrough footballer Irving Nattrass (left) and Malcolm Allison, who was Middlesbrough FC Manager at the time. The lady hiding her face on the right is George Best's ex-wife, Angie who was a bit camera shy! Photo taken at Tyne Tees TV's Studios, Middlesbrough, after the Ethiopian Famine Relief Appeal. (1984)
	Myself with Chris Greener (UK's tallest man--7' 6 1/4") in 1992. I'm on the left!! Lord's Banqueting Suite, London.
	Myself and friend Bill Brown with former Soccer Stars Rodney Marsh (Bottom left) and George Best. Middlesbrough Town Hall 1993.
	Myself with International Speedway Star Gary Havelock at his 21st Birthday Party. November 1988.
	Myself with presenters Peter Waterman and Michaela Strachan, on ITV's "Hit Man and Her" at "The Mall", Stockton on Tees 1989.
	Myself with Debbie Rix (presenter and newsreader) and Tony Buzan, memory expert and author of books about the Human Brain which have sold millions throughout the world, after our appearance on BBC tv's "FAX" programme. Manchester 1987.