PETER SELLERS was born in Southsea, England, in 1925. After a spell as a stand-up comic and impressionist, he moved into radio. With Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine he starred in the ground-breaking comedy series, the Goon Show, which ran from 1951 to 1959. He also appeared in films, notably 'The Ladykillers' (1955), 'I'm All Right Jack' (1959), and 'The Millionairess' (1961). The film, 'Dr Strangelove, (1963), and his role as the incompetent Inspector Clouseau in the 'Pink Panther' series established his international reputation. He was nominated for an Oscar award for his part in 'Being There' (1979). He died in 1980 from a heart attack.

"In Hollywood, the women are all peaches. It makes one long for an apple occasionally."
Somerset Maugham 1964

"Strip away the phony tinsel of Hollywood and you'll find the real tinsel underneath."
Attributed to Oscar Levant

THE 'WALK OF FAME' passes the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevarde and comprises over 2000 marble stars set into the pavement commemorating celebrities of film, radio, music, theatre and television. Each plaque costs the sponsors $7500 to install and approval has to be obtained from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Glenn Miller joins the ranks of celebrities which also include Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Munroe.
Glenn Miller was born on March 1, 1904, in Clarinda, Iowa. As a young man in Grant City, Miller milked cows to earn money to buy a trombone. After graduating from high school, Miller attended classes for two years at the University of Colorado. It was in college, that his interest in music developed. He continued to play the trombone, left the university and went to the west coast to try his luck as a musician.
Miller played for several small groups and later joined Ben Pollack's orchestra in 1927. The orchestra included people of the calibre of Benny Goodman. While in New York City he married his college sweetheart, Helen Burger, in 1928. After leaving the orchestra he earned his living as a free-lance trombonist and arranger. Miller played and recorded with well known artists, such as Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (who on several of their records, featured an up-and-coming singer by the name of Bing Crosby), Gene Krupa, Eddie Condon and Coleman Hawkins.
In 1934, Miller assisted Ray Noble in starting an orchestra which soon became popular through its radio broadcasts. By 1937, Miller's popularity among big band circles enabled him to form an orchestra of his own, which eventually disbanded. In 1938, Miller then formed a second band. Miller had to struggle to get it through its first two years. During those two years that he realized that the unique sound - produced by the clarinet holding the melodic line with the tenor saxophone playing the same note supported harmonically by three other saxophones - introduced a style that would set his band apart from all the rest. In March 1939, the band had its first important engagement to play at the famous Glen Island Casino in New York, followed by another engagement at Meadowbrook, New Jersey. Within a few months, the orchestra achieved great popularity through their radio broadcasts and began breaking attendance records at venues along the East Coast.There were popular recordings such as "Tuxedo Junction", which sold 115,000 copies in the first week and 'In the Mood', and 'Pennsylvania 6-5000', all appearing on the RCA Victor Bluebird label. In early 1940, Some of the orchestra's other classics included 'String of Pearls', 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' and 'Moonlight Serenade''. The band also featured in two films, 'Sun Valley Serenade' (1941) and 'Orchestra Wives' (1942).
In October 1942, Miller disbanded his orchestra and joined the US Army Air Force with the rank of captain where he assembled a band to perform for the troops. When the troops moved to England, Miller's band followed. In England the American Band of the Allied Expeditionary Force (AEF) performed over 800 times, 500 being broadcasts heard by millions of radio listeners. Miller, promoted to Major, was based at Milton Ernest close to the Twinwood airfield. It was at the Hall in Milton Ernest that Glenn gave performances with his orchestra. The band also played at the Corn Exchange in nearby Bedford. The Co-Partners Hall in Bedford became into his Radio Station and here much of his recording was done, often in association with famous stars such as Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.
At Twinwoods airfield he performed a concert for the aircrews using two trailers placed as a stage next to the Control Tower. It was from that tower that Glenn Miller was last seen alive on Friday 15 December 1944. From Twinwoods airfield he flew with pilot, John Morgan, and Colonel Norman Baessell in a Norseman single engined aircraft with the object of joining his orchestra in Paris. The plane disappeared en route over the English Channel.

Glenn Miller's autograph (right) was obtained by the author at a rehearsal for a 'Carnival of Music' held in the Granada Cinema, Bedford on Sunday 26 November 1944, just two weeks before Miller went missing.