When Mrs Kathleen Skeet went for two job interviews as a nanny in 1957, little did she know how it was going to change the course of her life.

'I went for interviews with Norman Wisdom's wife and with Basil Kelly's wife the same day. I asked my Mother if she would like to come with me to London, but not to the interviews themselves. Both paid my fare and lunch so that covered Mum's expenses too.

Neither knew of the other at the time. Mrs. Wisdom was so easy and nice to talk to and we really got on well. When she told me she had 16 other girls to interview, naturally I resigned myself to not getting the job.
I went to meet Mrs. Kelly and again we got on lovely. There was no snobbery with either ladies.
I agreed to start with Mrs. Kelly in Kensington on the Monday, when the Saturday prior to that I had a telegram (we couldn't afford a telephone).

Mrs. Wisdom said to phone her back and reverse the charge. When I phoned her she told me the job was mine. I told her I had agreed to start in Kensington. Mrs. Wisdom said, 'You think about it and let me know'. I replied, 'As you are offering ten shillings a week more, I accept'.

When I phoned Mrs Kelly she recognised my voice. After I had explained she said she hated to say it but she knew what she would do in my position but did I mind if she kept in touch with me. She told me later that every time she saw Norman Wisdom on the television she shook her fist at him and shouted, 'You have got my Kathleen!'

Mrs. Wisdom's Mother told me afterwards the reason I got the job was because I was the only one who spoke to young Nick (Jackie was asleep), and I was ordinary like themselves. No one could take offence at that.
Mrs. Wisdom was a lovely lady. Both her and Mrs. Kelly were only a year older than me. Unfortunately Mrs. Wisdom died several years ago.

I still keep in touch with Sir Norman Wisdom OBE. He said he can't get used to being 'Sir' after his days when he was an errand boy at Lipton's and being called 'Hey you!!'

I have lost touch with the Kellys. Mr. Kelly was an Estate Agent near Harrods. Mrs. Kelly told me she went to him to buy a house (Beauchamp Place). He said he would find her a nice place if she would let him take her out to dinner. As he was a double of Van Johnson the film star, she didn't turn him down!

They had the happiest marriage I have ever known. Every time she had a baby he would buy her a most expensive present. In the end she used to envy other women who were pregnant. She enjoyed the whole experience!

It is now 43 years since I left the Wisdom's and spent the next 5 years with the Kelly's. I am now 71.
Mrs Kelly had been a beauty queen in Australia and one of her duties was to meet the troops coming back from war zones, off the boats. Mrs. Kelly's maiden name was Payne. They owned Payne's Chocolate Factory in Australia and were the original makers of Payne's Poppits. They sold out to one of our well-known sweet manufacturers and by now Mr.Payne had passed away.

Mrs. Payne came over to England twice a year on the 'Oriana' to visit Mrs. Kelly and her sister. She (Mrs Payne) was a Director of the new Company.

I remember on my birthday Mrs. Kelly gave me a new dress. Mrs. Payne gave me a lovely pearl necklace. Mr. Kelly gave me something else, so did each of the three children. Even Rufus the dog did too - nylons. Mrs. Kelly cooked a special lunch for me, which was Duck a l'Orange and made my favourite chocolate cake. She used to give me all her lovely clothes.

They had a Champagne Party one night and I asked if I could help. She said, 'Certainly not, you are one of the guests.' She tried to marry me off to one of their frequent visitors, but she didn't know he was already married and I already had a boy friend, although not up there.

I left once during my five years with them and took a job in my native Worthing. Mrs. Kelly wrote to me and asked if I would go back because they had a job trying to get the new girl to have a bath. It took five weeks.
Mrs. Kelly always spent from 6 a.m. in the bathroom until 7.00 a.m. That was my signal to go in, when she put the light on outside my door. I always had my bath at night and made sure the bathroom was spotless when I left.

When the new girl had a bath Mr. Kelly went down as usual at 6.00. and got Mrs. Kelly to come and have a look at it. The girl had just pulled the plug out and left it. Mr. Kelly said it looked like the Thames when the tide went out.

I was sorry to leave them but I felt my Mother was getting on in years and needed me.'