Hi There!
Remember the record?
i
Really?? Great!
i
(So you're the one!)
i
Well, actually, if you're
40-Something or over and
listened to BBC Radio 1 or
watched TOP OF THE POPS
on TV it may well
"ring a bell."
Remember the record?
i
Really?? Great!
i
(So you're the one!)
i
Well, actually, if you're
40-Something or over and
listened to BBC Radio 1 or
watched TOP OF THE POPS
on TV it may well
"ring a bell."
That's me, above and on the left,
about 35 years ago, around the time
"King Of The Cops"
was released (actually, it escaped...)
i
But, even today, people ask me why I
left Show Business.
i
The fact is, my act was going downhill
- FAST!
i
The awful, terrible truth was that,
without realizing it, I had become
painfully, excruciatingly, agonizingly
and insufferably
about 35 years ago, around the time
"King Of The Cops"
was released (actually, it escaped...)
i
But, even today, people ask me why I
left Show Business.
i
The fact is, my act was going downhill
- FAST!
i
The awful, terrible truth was that,
without realizing it, I had become
painfully, excruciatingly, agonizingly
and insufferably
I began to suspect something was wrong with my cabaret act when applause came only when my microphone
stopped working. And then, one night, halfway through my theatre act, stagehands began dismantling the scenery.
Pretty soon my confidence began to wane, and every other sentence in my act began with "...So... anyway...". I was deeply
wounded when 'The Stage’ newspaper described me as ‘... a duller version of Michael Aspel’, but I finally accepted
it was time to quit when instead of taking encores and curtain calls, I had to thank my audience members by name.
After one show a nice old lady tried to comfort me, saying "Don't feel too bad, Billy. Lots of people have no personality..."
Needless to say, all this was a massive blow to my confidence. I had always been headstrong and cocksure...or was it the
other way around? A survey had revealed that my TV appearances made viewers long for the commercial breaks; indeed
on my last show the network cut away to live coverage of studio audience members smoking in the foyer. To add insult to
injury, London Weekend TV tried to alter my contract by offering me the "coveted 5.30 am slot". I tried to liven the act up
by asking Des O’Connor for some of his priceless quips, but on the last show I saw the ghost of Benny Hill giving me the
"wrap it up" signal.
I knew then that failure had gone to my head... I had become to show business what Eddie the Eagle is to ski-jumping.
I began to lose weight and soon I looked terrible - like a haircut with a person attached. On the good side, I didn’t have an
enemy in the world; the trouble was, all my friends hated me. It became so bad that I couldn’t think or see straight.
I wouldn't have been able to see lumps in a lump factory...even on a good day I couldn’t find my behind with both hands...
stopped working. And then, one night, halfway through my theatre act, stagehands began dismantling the scenery.
Pretty soon my confidence began to wane, and every other sentence in my act began with "...So... anyway...". I was deeply
wounded when 'The Stage’ newspaper described me as ‘... a duller version of Michael Aspel’, but I finally accepted
it was time to quit when instead of taking encores and curtain calls, I had to thank my audience members by name.
After one show a nice old lady tried to comfort me, saying "Don't feel too bad, Billy. Lots of people have no personality..."
Needless to say, all this was a massive blow to my confidence. I had always been headstrong and cocksure...or was it the
other way around? A survey had revealed that my TV appearances made viewers long for the commercial breaks; indeed
on my last show the network cut away to live coverage of studio audience members smoking in the foyer. To add insult to
injury, London Weekend TV tried to alter my contract by offering me the "coveted 5.30 am slot". I tried to liven the act up
by asking Des O’Connor for some of his priceless quips, but on the last show I saw the ghost of Benny Hill giving me the
"wrap it up" signal.
I knew then that failure had gone to my head... I had become to show business what Eddie the Eagle is to ski-jumping.
I began to lose weight and soon I looked terrible - like a haircut with a person attached. On the good side, I didn’t have an
enemy in the world; the trouble was, all my friends hated me. It became so bad that I couldn’t think or see straight.
I wouldn't have been able to see lumps in a lump factory...even on a good day I couldn’t find my behind with both hands...
So, what's the reason for this website, I hear you ask?
I support Keech Children's Hospice, a tremendously worthy cause, here in Luton, by selling weekly lottery
Children who use the hospice have a variety of conditions. Some may live only a few months whilst others will live for a
number of years. Almost all will die before reaching adulthood. Many have conditions which worsen slowly over time, and
so become more and more dependent on their parents and carers as time goes on. The charity helps make their path as
pain and stress-free as possible by giving parents and their families care and support at every step of the way.
Tickets are only £1 each with a First Prize of £1000, a 2nd prize of £250, and 3 x 3rd prizes of £50. There are 40 prizes in
total, every week, and prize draws take place every Friday at the hospice offices by random computer selection.
So, if you would like to support a worthwhile charity -
why not join our WEEKLY LOTTERY SCHEME?
r
The commitment is for only one £1 ticket a week and you could get a nice surprise by winning a prize! The bulk of weekly
lottery ticket money goes directly to the children's hospice, making a substantial contribution to helping life-limited
children and supporting their families through a most critical and painful time in their lives.
r
Well? How about it? Will you join our weekly lottery?
It's only £1 a week THERE ARE 40 PRIZES
EVERY WEEK - AND YOU COULD WIN A CASH PRIZE, TOO!
r
If you do, you'll have the great satisfaction of knowing that every week YOU are helping a truly worthwhile cause, and
that whether you win or not, your weekly £1 has made a significant contribution towards the hospice funds.
If you'd like to 'come aboard' just email me (email address at the bottom of each page), and I'll contact you by return
email and arrange everything for you.
tickets for them.
Children who use the hospice have a variety of conditions. Some may live only a few months whilst others will live for a
number of years. Almost all will die before reaching adulthood. Many have conditions which worsen slowly over time, and
so become more and more dependent on their parents and carers as time goes on. The charity helps make their path as
pain and stress-free as possible by giving parents and their families care and support at every step of the way.
Tickets are only £1 each with a First Prize of £1000, a 2nd prize of £250, and 3 x 3rd prizes of £50. There are 40 prizes in
total, every week, and prize draws take place every Friday at the hospice offices by random computer selection.
So, if you would like to support a worthwhile charity -
why not join our WEEKLY LOTTERY SCHEME?
r
The commitment is for only one £1 ticket a week and you could get a nice surprise by winning a prize! The bulk of weekly
lottery ticket money goes directly to the children's hospice, making a substantial contribution to helping life-limited
children and supporting their families through a most critical and painful time in their lives.
r
Well? How about it? Will you join our weekly lottery?
It's only £1 a week THERE ARE 40 PRIZES
EVERY WEEK - AND YOU COULD WIN A CASH PRIZE, TOO!
r
If you do, you'll have the great satisfaction of knowing that every week YOU are helping a truly worthwhile cause, and
that whether you win or not, your weekly £1 has made a significant contribution towards the hospice funds.
If you'd like to 'come aboard' just email me (email address at the bottom of each page), and I'll contact you by return
email and arrange everything for you.
© Copyright 2007 – 2012 Billy Howard
To contact Billy by Email:
And, if you know anyone else who would like to join, just let them
know where to find me. I'll be happy to do the same for them.
Meanwhile, thank you for visiting us, and I hope you enjoy
the rest of the site.
With every good wish,
Billy
Charity number 1035089
Supporting
£1 only
a week
a week
OK, OK - - JUST KIDDING! The fact is I quit 'the business' in 1980 for a new career in sales and
marketing. My pregnant wife was expecting our daughter at the time and, after many miscarriages,
advised to go to bed for 6 months to ensure reaching full term. I felt I needed a new challenge
and went into the exciting field of direct sales where I spent the next 25 years. This year (2012) I
reached the ripe old age of 70 and have just retired.
marketing. My pregnant wife was expecting our daughter at the time and, after many miscarriages,
advised to go to bed for 6 months to ensure reaching full term. I felt I needed a new challenge
and went into the exciting field of direct sales where I spent the next 25 years. This year (2012) I
reached the ripe old age of 70 and have just retired.
KEECH CARE CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
E-mail me!
Cheers, Billy
Cheers, Billy
They say Charity Begins At Home
TODAY, I NEED YOUR HELP -
FOR A GREAT BRITISH CAUSE
TODAY, I NEED YOUR HELP -
FOR A GREAT BRITISH CAUSE
BORING!!!
Fancy a flutter?
Yesterday....
Today....