The Steeple Times

Tag: PJ’s

  • A Really Useful Angelis

    A Really Useful Angelis

    Matthew Steeples remembers the Liverpudlian actor and voice of ‘Thomas & Friends’ Michael Angelis who sadly passed away yesterday

    Screen and voice actor Michael Angelis was the narrator of Thomas & Friends for twenty-one years. He took over the role from Ringo Starr and in tribute, following his death, Doctor Who writer Harry Draper remarked of him on Twitter: “Thank you, Michael. You were far more than just Really Useful.”

     

    Born in Liverpool in 1952, Angelis appeared in everything from A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square to Boys from the Blackstuff and Lovejoy. He was subsequently married to his Coronation Street co-star Helen Worth from 1991 to 2001 and other credits included Bergerac, Crown Court, Hazell, Midsomer Murders, Minder and Z-Cars.

     

    An amiable sort and often spotted socialising in Chelsea at such places as The Sydney Arms, Angelis lived for many years just to the south of Albert Bridge. More recently, this lively Liverpudlian moved to the countryside with his delightful second wife, Jennifer, and after passing away suddenly yesterday will be missed by many. As a fan concluded: “He was the voice of my childhood… He brought us all a lot of happiness.”

     

    Pictured top: Thomas The Tank Engine, Michael Angelis (18th January 1952 – 30th May 2020) and his wife Jennifer.

     

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    A Really Useful Angelis – Michael Angelis (18th January 1952 – 30th May 2020) – Matthew Steeples remembers the Liverpudlian actor and voice of ‘Thomas & Friends’ Michael Angelis.
    On Twitter, actor and comedian Matt Lucas paid tribute by remarking: “Michael Angelis was one of the greatest TV actors I’ve ever seen. His work with Alan Bleasdale was tremendous. What a loss.” Here he is pictured in a scene from the BBC’s ‘Single Voices’ in the monologue ‘The Last Supper’ in 1989.
  • Overheard – 8th April

    Overheard – 8th April

    Clangers overheard and snippets spotted by readers of ‘The Steeple Times’

     

    Candy Knockers

    At Scalini in Knightsbridge, two brash housebuilders from Essex sat devouring veal chops. One referenced his idols and observed: “The Candy brothers have a brilliant setup. They are like the Peter Stringfellows of property”. The other looked puzzled but the first continued: “They’ve got properties that sell as well as Katie Price’s knockers. What assets! Value for money? I don’t know. But, impressive? Hell yeah!” Try telling that to Mark Holyoake.

     

    You’ve Got That Sinking Feeling

    The same duo moved on to talking about their respective staff. The louder of the two offered his thoughts: “I’m so proud of Ray. He’s like the Titanic. He’s like the best ship in the world. Not because it sank but because it was the best ship in the world”. The other opined: “It still f**king sank and Ray will still f**king sink too”. All that was needed next was for My Heart Will Go On to play.

     

    Housing the Godly

    Two priests were spotted drinking Bloody Marys at the bar at PJ’s on Fulham Road. The first remarked: “I never quite manage to get given houses”. The second answered: “Shocking, isn’t it? I look through Country Life each week and I think: ‘All I get given each week is Communion wine’”.

     

    Partying with a 4×4

    A group of ladies gathered in the garden at Chiltern Firehouse after a hard day’s shopping in Selfridges. As they discussed an impending party an absent ‘friend’ was due to host, one Pucci clad creature shared her thoughts. She commented: “It’s not a party. They’re telling porkie pies. They’re just having it to show off that new Range Rover they’ve just bought. I bet they’ll block the bloody drive with it”. Miaow!

     

    An Iggy Hangover

    “My worst hangover was when I drank three bottles of champagne” remarked a passenger on the 14 bus. “Why?” asked her friend. “Because I had to take three days off work and because I thought I was Iggy Pop for two of them”.

     

    Submit comments you hear to [email protected]. We publish amusing and ridiculous chatter we receive and sometimes we change names and locations to protect the identities of the vain and the vacuous.

     

  • PJS’ Sacrifice

    PJS’ Sacrifice

    Super-injunction on reporting of a story of a ‘celebrity’ threesome lifted (but for now the individual still cannot yet be named) (more…)

  • Manthe Penton Harrap

    Manthe Penton Harrap

    Manthe Penton HarrapFeatured on the BBC documentary Modern Times: Welcome to Mayfair in February 2015, Manthe Penton Harrap tells her Twitter followers that she believes “health is wealth”. (more…)

  • Plated IX

    Plated IX

    15 more of the best plates spotted by readers of ‘The Steeple Times’

     

    Continuing our series, below we feature 15 more unusual, laughable and entertaining number plates (more…)

  • Steaking Red Ken

    Steaking Red Ken

    A review of Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar

     

    James Gillray (1756 – 1815) was a Chelsea born caricaturist and printmaker and is most famous for his satires against George III. In naming their restaurant after him, the Marriott County Hall has firmly pinned themselves to honouring his spirit and life. (more…)

  • Five of the best: Here comes the sun

    Five of the best: Here comes the sun

    The Steeple Times suggests five things to bring cheer to Julian Assange’s grey existence

     

    The fugitive Julian Assange will have been in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for exactly one year tomorrow, the 19th June 2013. Last week Ecuador’s foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, commented:

     

    “We believe he has a fundamental right to sunbathe. His right to intimacy, mobility, a normal life and health is being restricted”.

      (more…)

  • Captain Pugwash (AKA ‘Captain’ Michael M. Maricic)

    Captain Pugwash (AKA ‘Captain’ Michael M. Maricic)

    Captain PugwashThis old chap wanders the Fulham Road in a seafaring cap and claims to be a “restaurant consultant and promoter of new faces (models and actresses)”. He’s also “writing a biography that will be fascinating to read” and is “recognised by the late Honourable president [sic] of the United States Roland [sic] Regan”. Bonkers.

  • The Waitrose Clepto

    The Waitrose Clepto

    The Waitrose CleptoFamous simply for being thrown out of Waitrose in Kings Road because of his helping hands and also for his daily dance on the steps of Patara in Fulham Road, little else is known about this Chelsea eccentric. Goodness knows what’s hidden inside the flasher mac The Waitrose Clepto generally sports.

     

  • “Where are they now?” – James Hewitt

    “Where are they now?” – James Hewitt

    What has become of the “love rat” James Hewitt?

     

    In the first of a new series, we seek to find out what has become of well-known individuals who have faded into obscurity or moved on into others arenas.

     

    Our first subject, James Hewitt, will forever be remembered for two things: One will be his affair with Princess Diana. The second will be his “caddish” attempts to sell stories and information relating to this.

      (more…)