Author hopes to reignite celebrity gaffe book interest in aid of NSPCC

Fiona Snelson, from Norwich, wrote the book FAMOUS FAUX PAS – Embarrassing moments, gaffes and clangers which received acclaim, becoming a top seller, with several national newspaper titles printing a series of excerpts. 

Fiona, now 56, was just 18 and still at Norwich High School for Girls when she came up with the idea of raising money for the NSPCC by writing to famous celebrities to see if they had any funny stories to share. 

She has spoken about the effort as the company she now works for - Newsquest - has partnered with the charity as its first charity partner of the year. 

The book (Image: Fiona Snelson)

In 1990 Century Hutchinson published her book and it flew off the shelves and to the top of the charts. 

Fiona said: "In those days there was no internet or email so I would find out who was appearing at local and national theatres, and write to celebrities. I wrote to the House of Commons, TV companies, the BBC and used the library a lot including ‘Who's who’ to find out information on heads of state.

"Celebrities in the book include Terry Wogan, Sterling Moss , Barbara Cartland, Fatima Whitbread, Alan Titchmarsh, Patrick Moore, Richard Todd, Shirley Williams the MP, Jonathan Dimbleby, Marjorie Proops, Les Dawson, Mike Yarwood, Una Stubbs, Julie Walters, Glenda Jackson, Jilly Cooper, Edwina Curry, Dennis Healey, Paddy Ashdown, Nigel Planer and the Duke of Bedford to name a few.

"The foreword was by Princess Margaret who was the President of the NSPCC at the time. 

"I then did various TV and radio interviews and a sign-athon in London at Waterstones flagship store with Fatima Whitbread, the Beverley sisters and Nigel Planer who was in the Young Ones at the time." 

Fiona Snelson at a signing (Image: Fiona Snelson)

Fiona, from Norwich, now working as a sales manager for Newsquest in the city, said she always hoped to write a follow up book called  ‘Kids who’d have them’ but have never got around to it. 

She said the charity partnership has spurred her into thinking about getting the project off the ground again - and she called for anyone interested in helping her to get in touch. Email fiona.snelson@newsquest.co.uk.

Newsquest announced the partnership with the NSPCC in January, coinciding with the child protection charity's 140th anniversary.

As part of the partnership, Newsquest is gifting at least £6m worth of advertising to the charity across its extensive portfolio of titles, online and in print.

Some excerpts from Fiona's book: 

JEFFREY ARCHER

When I was 22/23 years old I worked as a personal assistant to Lord Harlech in his capacity of President of the European Movement and in this capacity I was invited to dinner with Nelson Rockefeller. The dinner was for ten people and I was by far the most junior and insignificant. On the wall behind Mr Rockefeller was a picture which I greatly admired and I felt confident I had seen it before. I did not speak during the meal until Mr Rockefeller noticed that I was staring at the picture behind him and he asked me if I liked the picture. 'Yes,' I replied, 'and I think I can tell you where the original hangs.'

There was a stunned silence around the table that was rescued by Mr Rockefeller saying, 'You are quite right, Goya painted two of that particular lady and the first one is in the Prado in Madrid.' It was the first moment in my life when I realized that a private person could own a Goya.

SIR HUGH CASSON

I remember a faux pas related to me by my dear friend, the late Sir High Wheldon. 

He had been invited to a party on a Thursday in September. He turned up, and rang the bell. His hostess answered it wearing a dressing gown and with her hair wrapped in a towel. She stared at him in icy disbelief.

'I am so sorry,' said Hugh. 'It must be next Thursday. Heavens forgive me!'

'It was last Thursday in fact,' said his hostess, closing the door, 'and you were there!'

DUKE OF BEDFORD

When I was about eighteen I went to the grandest dinner party at Londonderry House in London that I had ever attended. There were about 150 people, distinguished guests for the coronation of George VI. All kinds of royalty and heads of state. I was trying to make conversation with a rather stuffy girl and said 'Who is that pompous-looking ass with a moustache opposite?' 'My father,' she replied. I searched desperately the length of the endless table. There was not another man with a moustache.