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One day when I was comng back to Birmingham on leave, I was just getting off the train behind this bird. Now I didn't know a lot about birds but I knew a good pair of legs when I saw them!

And I knew a bit about clothes too. This lady was very well dressed in a brown and white ocelot coat, ankle boots and a little ocelet forage cap perched on her head. Well, she stepped down onto the platform and the porter brought up her luggage - she had quite a bit. It was obvious she was waiting for someone who hadn't shown. I went up to her and asked if I could help, since she looked very good and you never know.

She said 'Oh no need to worry, I'm being met by the station master'. Time passed and noone came so I asked again if I could help and this time she said yes. So I picked up her bags and followed her out of the station.

We walked to the big hotel just outside New Street Station. Can you picture it? It fronted onto Stephenson Street, next to where that big bookshop is now. And it was very swanky. And as we got inside the door - a big revolving glass and brass door - the manager ran up crying 'Oh Miss Lockwood, I am so sorry! Have you been very put out?'

Well, I thought she'd looked familiar! This was the actress, Margaret Lockwood. Blow me down! She was such a lady. She offered me some money for carrying her bags but I said 'No, it was payment enough to be able to help you out. But I wouldn't say no to an autograph.'

Well, all I had on me by way of paper was my leave pass, which she signed. But I had to give that back in when I got back to camp, so I lost it. Still, at least I've got the memory.

[Mr Winters came to the Mailbox on Remembrance Day 2004 to tell his story to me, Jenni Waugh, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Outreach Officer. I was very honoured to pass the 2-minute silence with him. Afterwards, he told me this story, which I have typed onto the site on his behalf.]

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