A MAN who began life as an apprentice joiner in a North-East shipyard has written a book telling how he went on to work with some of the biggest stars in cinema history.

Gordon Auty, 86, knew Charlie Chaplin, Charles Laughton, John Mills, Humphrey Bogart, Jean Simmons and Oscar-winning director John Huston.

Now Mr Auty, from Barnard Castle, has recalled his memories of them and other stars for the book, which is to be published later this year.

It is to be called Check the Gate, It's a Wrap - terms used in filming - with the subtitle, From South Shields to Barnard Castle via Hollywood.

Mr Auty left school in South Shields, South Tyneside, at the age of 14 and served his time in a shipyard before working on a harbour in London and then building scenery for a film company.

He spent six months working with Chaplin, who was directing The King in New York, starring his son, Sidney Chaplin.

"You had to put in 110 per cent to satisfy Chaplin," Mr Auty recalled.

"I got on well with him as I worked hard, but he sacked four top art directors when I was there."

While building sets for Hobson's Choice, its star, John Mills, asked him to make a hutch for his daughter Hayley's rabbits.

"He was delighted with it and then asked me to make some furniture for his huge house, which I was pleased to do," said Mr Auty.

He liked another star of that film, Charles Laughton, who enjoyed sitting with the crew and asking about their lives rather than watching rushes with other actors.

He worked with John Huston on four films, including Moulin Rouge and Beat the Devil, starring Humphrey Bogart and Gina Lollobrigida, who he described as "really nice people".

Other stars Mr Auty met on film sets included Glynis Johns, Abbot and Costello, Moira Shearer, Vivien Leigh, Wendy Craig and Stewart Granger.

Mr Auty later became a producer, mainly on commercials, some of which featured sportsmen such as Mohammed Ali - "a gentle chap who never tired of chatting to fans and signing autographs"

- and racing driver Nigel Mansell.

He also produced ten short films in which George Best showed his football skills and passed on hints to young players.

He recalled that Best was charming to everyone.

Mr Auty went to Hollywood for a short time and made some contacts, but he did not do any film work there.

"I've had a wonderful life and met great people, so I felt it was time to put my story down on paper," he said.

"I am totally uneducated and can't spell very well, but I was good at making things with wood and I worked really hard.

The skills I learned in the shipyard put me on the way to a marvellous career."