After much socialising with his old workmates, it was time for the blue plaque presentation.

The master of ceremonies was a gentleman called Paul Welsh, who did a fine job. He read out a list of people who were sending their congratulations to Roger, people like Kate O’Mara, Francis Matthews, Philip Madoc, Peter Bowles, Douglas Wilmer, Michael Gough, Burt Kwouk, Victor Spinetti, Nanette Newman, Barry Morse, Jeremy Summers, David Hedison, Jane Merrow, Harry Towb, Freddy Francis, Jenny Linden, Sue Lloyd, Honor Blackman, Pat Jackson, Annette Andre, Tony Counter, Anthony Bates, Angela Douglas, Roy Baker, Alvin Rakoff, Jan Williams, Barbara Shelley.

Actress Madeline Smith shows her affection

for Roger

The next friend and colleague of Sir Roger’s who had sent his congratulations was non other than his co-star of The Persuaders Tony Curtis! Who had not only sent his congratulations he had sent them personally with an audio message. So when it was announced there was a gasp of anticipation from the audience. I personally had arranged to receive Tony’s message and had the honour to be called to centre stage with my iPod stereo system so I could play Tony’s greeting through the PA system to the entire crowd. Tony delivered a heartfelt greeting to his friend Roger sprinkled with his usual charismatic sense of humour. During the one minute message from Tony Roger looked touched and also amused, as did the entire room listening to it over the PA system.

Above is the photo I took of Roger and Tony this year 2006 at the Empire Film Awards

Full details of the Empire film awards 2006 with Sir Roger Moore and Tony Curtis here

You can listen to Tony Curtis’s message to Roger here.

You can, read the text version or Tony Curtis’s message here.

Tony unfortunately was not actually at the event, Tony sent his message to his pal Roger through me as the recorded message you can listen to here. So the picture above is a bit of Photoshop fun :-)

Next Bob Baker was called to centre stage. He was given the task of unveiling the blue plaque to Roger. There could be no more appropriate person to be given the honour of this task than Bob as he was the producer of the series The Saint, He had also been the person in the early 60s who initially approached Leslie Charteris to obtain the rights to use his scripts and character from the bestselling books. He was also responsible for obtaining the finance to produce the programme from the television mogul Sir Lew Grade.

At the end of Bobs speech he unveiled the plaque to rowdiest applause from everyone at which point Sir Roger came up to his friend and gave him a very big hug of affection.