It’s quite often said that many people can remember exactly what they were doing when they heard about an important event. So I decided to put this to the test by racking my brains to see if I could recall what I was up to at the time of some popular earth-shattering events through the years.

I have a distinct recollection of what I was doing when I first became aware of the tragedy at the World Trade Centre – I was watching the telly. And the events of that day had such a profound effect on me that I can still remember the exact date – September 11th.

Similarly I remember hearing about John Lennon’s death and I have a vivid memory of being sat in front of the telly at the time.

When the news of Princess Diana’s tragic accident in Paris came through, I’m pretty sure I remember that I was watching telly. And likewise when Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, I am almost certain I was staring at the old goggle-box.

When the Berlin wall came crashing down, at first I thought I had a hazy recollection of being sat in the garden in a deckchair having a quiet snooze. But on second thoughts that was when my neighbour’s garden wall came crashing down after being rammed by a learner driver who had mounted the pavement. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure the Berlin wall thing happened at some other time, probably when I was snoozing in front of the telly.

When the Queen was crowned back in 1953, that was of course decades before I was born. But I bet my parents have fond memories of being sat in front of a small black and white set round the corner at one of their more affluent neighbours.

And when news broke of Elvis’s death in 1977, I’m almost certain I was watching the telly. Although Mrs Letters begs to differ.

She seems to think that I was sat on the toilet in a sequinned suit eating a cheeseburger at the time. I believe she may be confusing me with someone else.