Chaplin tried to have me sacked

Collecting the scrawls of the rich and famous was not always easy but Maz's collection of about 50 signatures has been valued at about £10,000.

But the mother-of-two from Eastbourne is loathe to part with her books, which bring back years of memories from her time as a freelance film editor at Pinewood, Twickenham and Elstree studios.

Her job, working on television series such as Up The Junction and later in films, opened the door to meeting hundreds of big names passing through the London studios.

She said: "I knew what was being made at the time and which big stars were coming in. The men on the gate would always give me a tip-off."

Some stars remain in her memory as polite, good-humoured characters such as Denis Waterman, Michael Caine, Sophia Loren, Omar Sharif, Yul Brynner and the cast of the Carry On films.

Others, however, were less than forthcoming with their monikers.

Mrs Stanley said: "Charlie Chaplin tried to get me sacked from Pinewood Studios. He threw me off the set.

"He was very nervous because he hadn't made a film for 15 or 20 years and had ordered a closed set. I got in because I had to have Sammy Davis Junior's autograph and heard he was coming to Pinewood."

Fortunately, she was spared a sacking and made up with Chaplin after complimenting him on his acting.

She said: "He took a compliment really graciously and I forgave him because he was obviously very, very nervous."

Marlon Brando belched in her face after being asked for an autograph, yet her determination paid off and his signature alone is now worth hundreds of pounds.

Thirty-five years later and the books and bits of paper are beginning to fade. Soon they will all be put behind glass to preserve them.

One special set from the Beatles remains safely secured in a bank vault.

Mrs Stanley said: "I do still try to get autographs. When you have a collection you like to add to it but I haven't got many recent ones."