Well readers, I survived the ceremony at St Albans Cathedral to bestow upon me an honorary master of arts degree.

When they read out my citation, it felt a bit like hearing one's own obituary but was very flattering. It was a pleasure to be accompanied by old mates Bob, Matt, Sean, Amy and Mike and we all enjoyed a nice meal at Sopwell Manor afterwards. A nice change from choosing from the bargains shelf at Morrisons.

Last week also saw a great deal of coverage about the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. The new Doctor was revealed in a programme broadcast from the BBC's Elstree Centre a few weeks ago.

Thirty one years ago, I arranged for the then Doctor Who, played by Peter Davison, to visit Maxwell Park Community Centre as part of a series of ‘meet a star’ evenings I organised for the kids.

Others included the then Spurs and England player Glenn Hoddle, Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan, Star Wars’ Luke Skywalker in the shape of actor Mark Hamill and boxing champion Alan Minter.

In those days, they all did it as a favour for me and there were no appearance fees. How the celebrity world has changed since then.

I should mention that my highly desirable book Elstree Confidential, which salutes the studios of Borehamwood and the stars who have worked there, has been republished as a softback, but the same size. It is available, as a fundraiser, exclusively from the Borehamwood Museum or online at the Elstree Screen Heritage website.

With Christmas coming it is an ideal present for that friend or relative you do not really like but feel obliged to give something.

Last week also saw the 50th anniversary of the death of President Kennedy, who I think was the last great American president.

Ever since, they seem to have been the type that if you were in the military you would promote out of harm's way. Of course, his womanising would have finished him straight away today.

I decided the other day to listen again to an album of songs by the great Dean Martin. I love his distinctive voice, which sounds like he is always a bit plastered.

He certainly enjoyed a drink but often on stage he would drink apple juice and pretend it was bourbon.

I was actually introduced to Dean in Los Angeles 25 years ago. I was in a quiet restaurant and the person with me introduced us. By this time, Dean had retired and seemed a shadow of his former self.

They say he had lost the will to live when his son had been killed in an air crash the year before. Dean lived on until 1995 when, perhaps due to lifelong drinking and smoking, he succumbed to lung cancer and emphysema.

It was a sad end to a great person who had given so much pleasure. I was later given the jacket he wore on his last film.

Well, I will finish this week to say how much pleasure I had introducing a screening of the Elstree-made Flash Gordon at the Campus Theatre in Hatfield.

Hundreds turned up and Brian Blessed was our special guest. He gave us a very funny question and answer session after the film. A really nice man and hard to believe he is nearly 80 but remains as active as ever.