PS I would never have been given a job on a magazine. About twelve years ago I was queuing at a cash machine inside Marks & Spencer in London’s Covent Garden. Kiefer Sutherland was in front of me trying to withdraw cash but the machine appeared faulty. I didn’t recognise him. Even when he turned around and asked me if I knew if there was another cash machine close by, I didn’t recognise him. Even though I had watched hours of reruns of him starring in the TV show 24 hours, I still didn’t recognise him. Wanting to help this tourist and not knowing the exact whereabouts of another cash machine I suggested he could get up to £50 cash from the shop’s food department if he just made a cheap purchase. He smiled and politely told me he would need considerably more than £50. Just then, a shop assistant approached and shook his hand. I was in awe. I had never seen such politeness to a member of the public.
How cool!!! I was OBSESSED with Tears for Fears and that song, and even had the short hair with the little braids at the back for a while! My first job was boring (I think I told you already) but I had a lot of mad times outside of work. There were no jobs like that in Switzerland!!! But I loved those magazines and would stick up on them whenever I went to England. I particularly remember Look Now, and had forgotten all about it until you jolted my memory. You’ve had an incredible career! My uncle was a huge music journalist in the 60s and 70s, he interviewed all the greats and made me the best mixed tapes because the record companies sent him all the new albums! He still writes for the Daily Mail occasionally. He wrote the screenplay for That’ll Be The Day and Stardust, starring David Essex and Ringo Starr. He’s my idol! Stardust is dedicated to me. Did you ever see those films?
Thank you Francesca! Yes, I saw That’ll Be The Day and Stardust! My best friend when I was a teen was a massive David Essex fan, so there was no chance of me missing anything he did. How brilliant that Stardust is dedicated to you! Your uncle sounds awesome. What’s his name?
And how cute that you copied Curt Smith’s hair! Do you have a photo?
My uncle is Ray Connolly. There is a great BBC play you can listen to (several actually) that he wrote called Devoted, about breaking his time in a coma and recovering from Covid. It’s very very good and fascinating. Also, one about if the Beatles had failed their first audition ! And then novels, too. And a great autobiography.
I have photos of me with short hair but I don’t think any with the braids!
Curt & Lynn Smith sound so wholesome! Like Boy George and his cup of tea! Have I met any celebrities? I had a long chat with Holly Johnson once. I can remember him talking about his childhood in Liverpool - how he was bullied at school. He was such a sweetie!
Thanks for reading and commenting, James. They do sound wholesome, you're right. Reading back, they were the same age as me and already seemed incredibly mature and worldly wise by comparison.
I never met Holly Johnson, but always liked the way he came across in interviews. Great that you had the chance to chat.
Another brilliant story, Wendy! I’d always dreamed of becoming a journalist but dropped out of my course at uni to do marketing - more sensible I decided for some inexplicable reason. What’s funny though is that I couldn’t stay away from the media and was desperate to live in London. I moved there in 2004 when I finished my degree and ended up working for EMAP! Sadly I was on the less sexy side (B2B titles) and the even less sexier side - ad sales! What the job lacked in prestige it made up for with fancy client lunches 😂 and I came back to writing eventually.
Thanks, Sara! What a coincidence that you worked for EMAP too! Yes, they had a whole range of rather "dry" magazines, alongside Smash Hits and Just Seventeen in the '80s. There was a bit of a Peterborough/Soho divide!
So impressed with your diary entries, your youthful gumption, and the wherewithal about the way things worked and how they could improve. I also really enjoyed how respectful your interview and subsequent hiring was at Just Seventeen. It was all meant to be. And the article! Can you imagine pop stars talking like that now? Haha, no "my mum works at Boots"! Brilliant, though Roland was my swoon.
Thank you, Ofifoto. I went for a lot of jobs that summer, across a whole range of creative industries, and no-one else had that same open, curious approach. Partly it was being in the right place at the right time, but part of it was that they really were on the look out for new talent.
Yes, it was a real privilege to be invited into a pop star's home like that. I can't imagine it happening now. Roland is in the video of Mad World, dancing outside the window. I love that.
I just love these posts - it's fascinating to hear about what was going on behind the covers all that time ago, when I was at the other end, staring at them in my local Safeway. Thank you Wendy!
What an amazing start to your career?! When I was in my early 20s I was in exclusively dead end jobs! Ha. Ace that you’ve kept the diary entries from that time, too. Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears is an absolute banger!
Thanks, Andy! Even then it was a competitive world. That door opened, luckily, but every other job I applied for that summer (and there were a lot!) turned me down. Which was just as well, as it left me free to take up the opportunities when they came. Silver linings.
I've been listening to a lot of Tears For Fears the past couple of days, as you can imagine. Hadn't played Head Over Heels yet, though, so just enjoying it now. Thanks for the reminder!
It’s great reading about your memories of Just Seventeen. Enjoyed the interview with Curt too. You’re inspiring me to start writing about my days there. Lots of good times. Changed my life. It was always lovely working with you, Wendy.
PS I would never have been given a job on a magazine. About twelve years ago I was queuing at a cash machine inside Marks & Spencer in London’s Covent Garden. Kiefer Sutherland was in front of me trying to withdraw cash but the machine appeared faulty. I didn’t recognise him. Even when he turned around and asked me if I knew if there was another cash machine close by, I didn’t recognise him. Even though I had watched hours of reruns of him starring in the TV show 24 hours, I still didn’t recognise him. Wanting to help this tourist and not knowing the exact whereabouts of another cash machine I suggested he could get up to £50 cash from the shop’s food department if he just made a cheap purchase. He smiled and politely told me he would need considerably more than £50. Just then, a shop assistant approached and shook his hand. I was in awe. I had never seen such politeness to a member of the public.
That’s great, Maureen! How funny! I wonder what he’d have bought in M&S if he’d taken your suggestion? Packet of Percy Pigs, maybe.
How cool!!! I was OBSESSED with Tears for Fears and that song, and even had the short hair with the little braids at the back for a while! My first job was boring (I think I told you already) but I had a lot of mad times outside of work. There were no jobs like that in Switzerland!!! But I loved those magazines and would stick up on them whenever I went to England. I particularly remember Look Now, and had forgotten all about it until you jolted my memory. You’ve had an incredible career! My uncle was a huge music journalist in the 60s and 70s, he interviewed all the greats and made me the best mixed tapes because the record companies sent him all the new albums! He still writes for the Daily Mail occasionally. He wrote the screenplay for That’ll Be The Day and Stardust, starring David Essex and Ringo Starr. He’s my idol! Stardust is dedicated to me. Did you ever see those films?
Thank you Francesca! Yes, I saw That’ll Be The Day and Stardust! My best friend when I was a teen was a massive David Essex fan, so there was no chance of me missing anything he did. How brilliant that Stardust is dedicated to you! Your uncle sounds awesome. What’s his name?
And how cute that you copied Curt Smith’s hair! Do you have a photo?
My uncle is Ray Connolly. There is a great BBC play you can listen to (several actually) that he wrote called Devoted, about breaking his time in a coma and recovering from Covid. It’s very very good and fascinating. Also, one about if the Beatles had failed their first audition ! And then novels, too. And a great autobiography.
I have photos of me with short hair but I don’t think any with the braids!
He sounds amazing. What a talented uncle. Glad he recovered from Covid. That sounds really gruelling.
Curt & Lynn Smith sound so wholesome! Like Boy George and his cup of tea! Have I met any celebrities? I had a long chat with Holly Johnson once. I can remember him talking about his childhood in Liverpool - how he was bullied at school. He was such a sweetie!
Thanks for reading and commenting, James. They do sound wholesome, you're right. Reading back, they were the same age as me and already seemed incredibly mature and worldly wise by comparison.
I never met Holly Johnson, but always liked the way he came across in interviews. Great that you had the chance to chat.
Hilarious
i put this in the wrong slot ... gherkin ... 10/10
Another brilliant story, Wendy! I’d always dreamed of becoming a journalist but dropped out of my course at uni to do marketing - more sensible I decided for some inexplicable reason. What’s funny though is that I couldn’t stay away from the media and was desperate to live in London. I moved there in 2004 when I finished my degree and ended up working for EMAP! Sadly I was on the less sexy side (B2B titles) and the even less sexier side - ad sales! What the job lacked in prestige it made up for with fancy client lunches 😂 and I came back to writing eventually.
Thanks, Sara! What a coincidence that you worked for EMAP too! Yes, they had a whole range of rather "dry" magazines, alongside Smash Hits and Just Seventeen in the '80s. There was a bit of a Peterborough/Soho divide!
Really glad you've got back to writing.
So impressed with your diary entries, your youthful gumption, and the wherewithal about the way things worked and how they could improve. I also really enjoyed how respectful your interview and subsequent hiring was at Just Seventeen. It was all meant to be. And the article! Can you imagine pop stars talking like that now? Haha, no "my mum works at Boots"! Brilliant, though Roland was my swoon.
Thank you, Ofifoto. I went for a lot of jobs that summer, across a whole range of creative industries, and no-one else had that same open, curious approach. Partly it was being in the right place at the right time, but part of it was that they really were on the look out for new talent.
Yes, it was a real privilege to be invited into a pop star's home like that. I can't imagine it happening now. Roland is in the video of Mad World, dancing outside the window. I love that.
I just love these posts - it's fascinating to hear about what was going on behind the covers all that time ago, when I was at the other end, staring at them in my local Safeway. Thank you Wendy!
Thanks, Faith. It’s great to connect with people who were reading the magazine. I was only involved the first few years, but it had a long life!
Another great entry this week. From coal to rock ‘n’ roll. Thanks for posting this!
Thank you, Jeff!
What a super career, Wendy ! This was a great essay to read.
Thank you, Maureen!
What an amazing start to your career?! When I was in my early 20s I was in exclusively dead end jobs! Ha. Ace that you’ve kept the diary entries from that time, too. Head Over Heels by Tears for Fears is an absolute banger!
Thanks, Andy! Even then it was a competitive world. That door opened, luckily, but every other job I applied for that summer (and there were a lot!) turned me down. Which was just as well, as it left me free to take up the opportunities when they came. Silver linings.
I've been listening to a lot of Tears For Fears the past couple of days, as you can imagine. Hadn't played Head Over Heels yet, though, so just enjoying it now. Thanks for the reminder!
It’s great reading about your memories of Just Seventeen. Enjoyed the interview with Curt too. You’re inspiring me to start writing about my days there. Lots of good times. Changed my life. It was always lovely working with you, Wendy.
Thanks, Jacqui. It was such a great place to work and such a vivid time, wasn’t it? Look forward to reading about your own memories.
Oh this is just fab. I love reading your diaries so much. There’s a book there. Your first job with Jill Furmonfsky too. Amazing.
Thanks, Margaret! Jill was already a bit of a legend. Perfect person to go on assignment with. Really thoughtful and unassuming.
A career written in the stars! Lovely read.
Thanks, Mike!
Not seen that music video before! The ‘80s hits were so personal, love the ‘happy birthday’ & shots of dance-moves in the garden.
It’s a brilliant video (and song). The dancer in the garden is Roland Orzabal, the other member of the duo.
What an amazing life you've built, Wendy! I love reading what you thought at the time. Thanks for sharing all these experiences.
Thanks, Lyndsey. The best things in my life happened when I took a leap of faith.
What a wonderful career you have had Wendy- 80s music is the best, isn’t it? Tears for Fears Mad World is so beautiful.
Thanks, Caroline. Mad World is an amazing song. I had it on repeat as I was writing. So good.