Well dear readers, this is my last article of this year and of this decade. Where has the time gone? God willing I will return next year for our weekly rambles down Memory Lane in your great company. Writing by nature is something you do by yourself - only your readers can judge whether they want to read your words and I never take that for granted.

I cannot believe it is 20 years ago this month that I helped escort Prince Charles around Elstree Studios to open the newly built giant sound stages. From memory they cost about £5 million and they relaunched the studio as a viable facility. I made one error that day. Several months earlier the Palace had asked me to send some notes so that HRH could personalise his speech, which I was happy to do. Then a few days before the event the then Leader of Hertsmere Council asked me to do the same thing. I had not kept a copy of the notes I had sent to the Palace so in error I obviously duplicated certain material. I still recall with horror seeing Charles seated behind the leader and crossing out parts of his speech while he was being introduced! I guess that cost me my knighthood.

Fast forward 20 years and it is great to see Strictly Come Dancing using one of those stages and remaining perhaps the most popular entertainment programme on television after all these years. I congratulate all those involved on the show; they run into hundreds. I thought Kelvin was a much deserved winner and the standard was very high this year. I hear Anton may now leave Strictly as he always wanted to exit on a high note. The show ties up the professional dancers for about six months. Anton has become a household name so he has no doubt many lucrative other offers for his time and it is just a fact that it must get hard as a dancer to maintain your own standards as age catches up. I once interviewed Gene Kelly and he said he stopped dancing when he felt it was time, as did Fred Astaire.

Incidentally, here are a couple of so-called trade secrets. Some of the star guests singing performances do not actually happen on the live show but are pre-recorded and inserted. It does not take a rocket scientist to realise A-listers are not always available to perform for three or four minutes on a given Saturday night. Some of the dances featuring the professionals are also recorded in advance for logistical reasons, which again is obvious. However that is the magic of showbiz. I met Kevin Clifton this year and early next year I am due to meet Giovanni. As ever I am willing to offer advice on how to dance the light fandango or the hokey kokey as I doubt young Gio encountered them in Italy.

Next year my coffee table-sized book on MGM British Studios, which closed 50 years ago, will be published. It will be a very limited edition hardback. It is time for me to pay back my lucky life so all profits will go the volunteer group Elstree Screen Heritage and our Borehamwood Museum.

So until the next decade I wish everyone, whatever your religion or none, happy holidays and a happy and healthy new year.