Crossroads 1981 Clip: The Beginning of the end of Meg

[Mike of CAS]

"I've only met the man who sacked me twice"...

We don't know what she did to him on those two occasions, but it must have been lethal.

[Hampstead]

This is something ive often wondered,though in her autobiography she mentions that her character was 45,but im not sure if she meant when the prog started,or when the book was being written. Most reports have Nollys D.O.B as 25/12/1924,but her will has it that she was born on 25/12/1919. So from what i can make of it Mrs M wouid have been 62 when she was pushed,& of course Nolly too.

[Maria No. 1.]

In the autobiography I have `My Life at Crossroads' 1975, Meg's age is given as 47.  I took it as Meg's age for that year.  When I have seen Nolly's age commented on, it was either 25.12.1922/23/24. But most reports I have seen have her as 1923.  In the TV Times Wedding Special, Nolly gives her age as 51, wanting people to believe that she was born 1923. I found out her correct D.O.B. 25.12.1919 when Press reports emerged of her funeral.  Her correct D.O.B. was inscribed on her coffin, and even surprised those who knew her, that she was 65 when she died.  She just didn't want people to know her correct age.

So, yes, Nolly would have been 61, coming towards 62 at the time of Meg sailing away on the QE2.

[Mike of CAS]

Its strange that online it took until a few years ago for the 1919 truth to come out. Only took 21 years.

Meg was supposed to be in her 40s in the 1960s wasn't it? Because someone, maybe Reg or such says she wasn't too happy about being "aged" (to her real age!) to have two teenage children.

[Maria No. 1.]

Yes, Meg was in her 40's in the 1960's, to have 2 teenage children.  I know if you took Nolly's age what she wanted people to believe (born 1923) she was 41 on 2.11.64 instead of her real age 45.  I know in her autobiography she talks about being 18 yrs old at the time of the blitz during Second World War, end of 1941.  When in fact she was 22 yrs old.  Nolly must have really had her reasons for wanting people to believe she was 4 years younger than what she really was.

If Meg was 47 in 1964, then Megs birthdate was 1917, 2 years older than Nolly's real age.

A little confusing isn't it !

But I do find it strange that it took 21 years for 1919 to get online, I am quite surprised at that, usually info gets online first, or so I thought !

[Hampstead]

I dont understand why it says in my copy of My Life it says 45,if yours says 47 Maria,i shall have to re-check.
However when i first got the copy of her will in 1987 ( must have been then as John Kavyo stated in his letter he'd love a copy of it when he was living in Boscombe)that was the first time i knew.I thought at first someone had made a mistake at Somerset House.
Alot of actresses from that period & before always knocked a few years off their age,for whatever reason,ie Doris Speed (Annie Walker) Joan Collins) still does & Liz Taylor etc. For some it seemed to go against them.a bit like "Alice Loomis" making out she was 44 in one episold. I remember my mother saying at the time "My god .the years hav'nt been very kind to you then ,have they luv? to which i replied, No, & the weeks in between must have been real bitches and all!

[Maria No. 1.]

Hampstead, I found out in Press reports of her funeral, 1 week on from her death, because of the date on her coffin.  Nolly's will was made public Aug 1985, although it is possible that you got a copy 2 years later.  But its the online information I can't get over, because the info was already in the public domain !

Yes, I knew about Doris Speed.  She was unfortunately found out by one of the papers who printed her birth certificate.  A sorry tale really, because she never recovered.

[Mike of CAS]

The thing about Doris Speed it was a bit more than "a few" years wasn't it? It was something like near-on 20 years she'd knocked off!

[Matthew Mortimer]

I dont understand why it says in my copy of My Life it says 45,if yours says 47 Maria,i shall have to re-check.
However when i first got the copy of her will in 1987 ( must have been then as John Kavyo stated in his letter he'd love a copy of it when he was living in Boscombe)that was the first time i knew.I thought at first someone had made a mistake at Somerset House.
Alot of actresses from that period & before always knocked a few years off their age,for whatever reason,ie Doris Speed (Annie Walker) Joan Collins) still does & Liz Taylor etc. For some it seemed to go against them.a bit like "Alice Loomis" making out she was 44 in one episold. I remember my mother saying at the time "My god .the years hav'nt been very kind to you then ,have they luv? to which i replied, No, & the weeks in between must have been real bitches and all!

So can anybody get a copy of anybody else's will?  Where from?!

Or did you acquire it personally? x

[Maria No. 1.]

The thing about Doris Speed it was a bit more than "a few" years wasn't it? It was something like near-on 20 years she'd knocked off!

Yes it was 20 odd years or more.  Doris did really well to get away with it for so long.  I think it was The Daily Mirror that broke the story.  I think from memory she was off sick, but she never went back to Coronation St after the revelation.

[ConCon]

After the executors have been granted probate on wills, they become public documents that anyone can have access to, (and copies if need be). They used to be held at Somerset House, but were moved some time back. They are now held by The Probate Department of the Principle Registry of the Family Division, (well the post 1858 ones are).

The only sealed willsthat I'm aware of are those of certain royals.

[paul ross]

Not sure if I like the idea of anyone being able to read your will. It is sad that women in particular have to skirt around their ages - I remember reading about Sharon Stone and her saying in an interview she was 45
- as soon as that was made public in Hollywood her career was.....

Today ageism is even more pronounced than ever. Look at films and tv - the tv companies say they are equal opportunities organisations - "yeah right!".

[oorshughie]

Or the lovely Moira Stewart getting axed for not being young enough,disgrace.

[Hampstead]

Firstly i have an apology to make,to Maria, for getting Megs age right, yes her book does mention that she was 47 not as i said 45,so i owe you a quick one at the cocktail bar at Larry's for that mistake hun
I was under the impression Doris was found out after she was charged for driving over the limit on the motorway by a speed cop who pulled her over,& after checking her licence number,& the press finding out, she felt humiliated. Why i dont know,like i said actresses were more eager to cover up their real ages back then.
I have always been interested in researching family trees,& back in the mid 80s used to work for the old Somerset House on the Strand & later Exmouth Market in Islington,that was where i got hold of a copy of Nollys will. In those days it was just a matter of pennies, now its becoming quite expensive as you also have to pay for the search ,you never used to, as that was what the staff were for.
Yes anyone can get a copy of anybodys will at anytime,but i agree it is a bit personal,shouid really only be allowed for family & close friends,however it was a case of i was working there at the time, i loved the actress, & curiosty got the better of me.
Have to agree with you Shughie i also love Moira Stewart, i Just wish someone wouid see the sense,& do what we the paying public ask & bring Moira ( & quite a few of the other so called oldies back)

[Maria No. 1.]

Hampstead, I'd just like to say, its OK.  I knew I was right, but I wasn't going to go into `bossy bitch' mode and contradict you left right and centre.  I have too much respect for you to do that !    Yes, I'll see you at Larry's Bar !  By the way don't know if you know, that I am soon to be `Crossroads Manager' of the whole lot, so will have even more power and influence, try and catch up if you can 

How fantastic for you to be working at Somerset House at the time of Nollys death.  I think anyone else would have done the same and got a copy of her will, I know I would have done too, if it was me working there !  Just call it Hampstead, one of the perks of the job ! 

I also agree with you & oorshughie about Moira Stewart, a real professional lady who carried herself well, just thrown to the wayside.  yes, she should be brought back, but the BBC won't I suspect.