A LIFE-LONG Spike Milligan fan could not believe her eyes when she saw a 60-year-old picture of herself in one of his books.

Joan Kidby, 92, from Hove, received a book about the comedian from her son Steve as a present. But the eagle-eyed pensioner was left dumbfounded after recognising herself in the background of a picture from 1955.

She said: “The picture was of Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan in Uxbridge Road in London, standing near the famous grocery store. In the background was me strolling past. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the picture. I was a fan of Spike back then but I can’t remember recognising him there on the road.

“The photographer was waving people along so I didn’t pay any notice. I maybe would have said hello to him or something if I knew who it was. I was living there at the time and used to go that way on route to the shops.

“It is a nice surprise after all these years to see the picture.”

Milligan was a famed comedian, writer, musician and poet. He was the co-creator of The Goon Show – a production often credited as the inspiration to members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

The 1955 picture of Joan depicts an elegant lady clutching a small purse and handbag, dressed in smart attire and boasting a half-smile.

Joan’s daughter-in-law Tracey said: “She’s always been an elegant lady, everybody knows her as glamorous. She was excited because her other son Steve was reading the book and decided to hand it over to her once he’d finished – but he hadn’t noticed the picture of his mum in the middle.

“She called us up very excitedly and even had one day of calling herself a celebrity.

“She remembered there was filming going on and she was trying to walk past but she was told she couldn’t. They snapped her as she went through.”

Joan added: “I was aghast to see myself. I have even more reason to treasure the book now.”