A story from Ian H

I accidentally met Patrick Stewart more times than I realised until the night his death was announced.
the first i remembered was in a theatre bar on Shaftesbuty Avenues: it was the interval, we were in the bar, I excused myself between two smart gentlemen & a well-dressed lady - i apologised for shuffling between them: all three turned to me, smiled, nodded & parted to let me through to the bar - it was Ian McKellen, Prunella Scales & Patrick Stewart! I started & startled, muttered something & smiled - Ian McKellan pretended i stood on his foot, I yelped & apologised, Patrick Stewart pretended i'd trod on his when I hopped away from Ian, & Prunella just giggled & reassured me. they were so mischievous. & all because i'd recognised them. then Patrick Stewart asked me what i was drinking by way of apology, & the three of them bought me & my friend our drinks! I was gobsmacked! they were such cheeky, playful children the three of them.
writing that on october 29th, & I remembered meeting Patrick & Ian again! this time with Sylvester McCoy, at the Swan Theatre bar (coincidence?!) at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Memorial Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon. I was with another friend seeing a visiting Macbeth as part of the RSC's complete works to raise funds to rebuild the proscenium Memorial Theatre as a thrust stage. We were in the bar (the smallest theatre bar in all of UK theatredom!) & I excused myself again as i made my way to the bar, when who should turn round, smile & let me through? I think i must've said something daft like "hello again" or something, because Patrick & Ian got talking again, asking me what i thought of the performance! i mean, ME!? little ol' me!? so i asked why they were there, & Patrick teased Ian about going to the gym & weight-training in preparation for King Lear so he could carry Cordelia (Romala Garai!) & the Fool (Sylvester McCoy) across the Courtyard Theatre Stage!