Mae West had a lot of chauffeurs, including a fellow from Cardiff

Gwen James, of Swansea Heads, contacted us to say that “a young chap from Cardiff worked for [Hollywood star] Mae West as her chauffeur”.

“That was in the 1930s,” Gwen said.

“She’s supposed to have employed lots of young blokes. And they didn’t last long.”

Rumour has it these young, strapping chauffeurs were used for more than driving.

Anyhow, Gwen said the bloke in question had spent some time in the US, before returning to Cardiff.

“You got your gossip in those days across the neighbour’s fence,” she said.

“Your mothers would talk to the lady next door when they did their washing. It doesn’t happen any more. Life’s changed.”

Tony Davis, of Charlestown, also shared a brush with fame.

“I completed my BA [Bachelor of Arts] degree by correspondence through New England University, graduating in the ‘60s,” Tony said.

“We had weekend schools, sometimes in Sydney. At one of these I met up with Carl, another schoolie. We got along very well. He asked me, as my wife was in Wollongong visiting a friend, if I would like to share his flat for the night. He said I could sleep in his sister’s bed, who was also away. His name was Carl McCullough. His sister was Colleen McCullough (the famous Australian writer who wrote The Thorn Birds). I agreed and slept in her bed. 

“Carl and I met up again at uni during the next school holidays and enjoyed a few beers. Sadly, some time later he drowned overseas while saving two young German girls, who both successfully recovered.”

Many years later, when planning a holiday to Norfolk Island, Tony wrote to Colleen telling her the story and suggesting a meeting.

“When we arrived on Norfolk, her secretary rang us, picked us up and drove us to Colleen’s lovely home,” he said.

“We had a great afternoon – just me, my wife and the delightful Colleen.”

The renowned author served cups of tea and Arnott’s bikkies. As they left, she gave them several of her books, with her signature.

The books were signed, “warmest regards, Colleen McCullough”.

Reader Dave, of Stockton, has been following our yellow submarine stories.

“You have had a bit lately about submarines, so here's a photo of a small one that was built in 1975 by Vidor Engineering at Chinchen St, Islington for Canadian firm Hydrodynamics,” Dave said. 

“Only the pressure hull, transfer lock and three small spheres were made here, then it was finished in Canada. I've seen a photo of the finished job. It wasn't painted yellow, but still looked very, very cool with a large perspex viewing bubble at the front and robotic arms.

“Vidor was known worldwide for its saturation diving bell systems in which divers would live and work for up to one month at a time. They also manufactured boilers, heat exchangers and many different types of pressure vessels including small decompression chambers for hospitals, similar to the type now made by Cowan Manufacturing at Warners Bay.”

Ray Tucker has added to our series on nicknames. Ray said there was a labourer called “The London Fog” because he would never lift.

Then there was a boss dubbed Singlet because he was “never off your back”.

* topics@theherald.com.au.