Carry On Ealing
April 23rd 2006
Drayton Court Hotel, Ealing
Special guests: Valerie Leon, Larry Dann and Pat Durkin.
With author and Carry On historian Robert Ross.
Event organised by Brett Tremble and Ray Bentley
Well, this is almost where it all started. The famous, and increasingly popular Whippit Inn events. Many of us attending had met up several times before, mostly at Pinewood Studio events, and more recently on a coach tour of locations, in and around the Pinewood/Maidenhead area, which was organised by friend and Whippit Inn regular Ray Bentley.
The event itself was being held at the Drayton Court Hotel. Many events since have been held here, but the venue is barely recognisable from those early days, having undergone several refurbishments.
Before the actual event, a different gathering had taken place, which saw several attendees enjoying a walking tour of Carry On film locations in the lovely streets of Ealing. Despite the rainy weather, it was a delight to see such places as the school from Carry On Teacher, the Police Station from Constable, which is actually the library, and many streets featured in the series. Even the event venue can be seen in a couple of shots from Constable.
The event itself was being held at the Drayton Court Hotel. Many events since have been held here, but the venue is barely recognisable from those early days, having undergone several refurbishments.
Before the actual event, a different gathering had taken place, which saw several attendees enjoying a walking tour of Carry On film locations in the lovely streets of Ealing. Despite the rainy weather, it was a delight to see such places as the school from Carry On Teacher, the Police Station from Constable, which is actually the library, and many streets featured in the series. Even the event venue can be seen in a couple of shots from Constable.
Leslie Phillips in Carry On Constable, with The Drayton Court Hotel behind him, towards the right of the shot
I really enjoyed this event. Considerably smaller than the Pinewood celebrations, it had a much more friendly vibe. Everybody was excited to be there. Not to say that the Pinewood events weren't exciting, because they certainly were, but they were definitely less intimate.
We were actually going to meet some actors from our favourite films. That sort of thing doesn't happen every day to blokes from Bradford. Well, unless you're Ade Edmondson or Mollie Sugden, but few of us are. It is more common nowadays, but back then it was extremely novel.
So, we all took our seats and thrilled at the sight of the fabulous Valerie Leon, the wonderful Larry Dann and International film actor Patrick Durkin. Along with Carry On historian Robert Ross completing the panel.
We were actually going to meet some actors from our favourite films. That sort of thing doesn't happen every day to blokes from Bradford. Well, unless you're Ade Edmondson or Mollie Sugden, but few of us are. It is more common nowadays, but back then it was extremely novel.
So, we all took our seats and thrilled at the sight of the fabulous Valerie Leon, the wonderful Larry Dann and International film actor Patrick Durkin. Along with Carry On historian Robert Ross completing the panel.
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Valerie had appeared in six Carry On films, between 1968 and 1973. From a Hospitality girl in Up the Khyber, to the major role of Paula Perkins in Carry On Girls. She also appeared in the 1972 TV Christmas special.
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Valerie as Leda in Carry On Up the Jungle
Carry On historian, and author, Robert Ross with Valerie
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Pat as a STENCH Guard in Carry On Spying
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Patrick Durkin had been in six Carry On films, including the very first one, Carry On Sergeant, way back in 1958. |
Pat sadly passed away in 2009, shortly after attended a Whippit Inn event in Brighton. He was 73.
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Despite his appearance in four Carry On films, spanning almost 20 years, from Teacher to Emmannuelle, I was more familiar with Larry Dann as Sergeant Alec Peters in The Bill. A role he played for eight years in the 1980s and 1990s.
It was a thrill to meet him. Just like Sergeant Peters, he was friendly, kind and such fun to spend time with. It was a wonderful day, and heralded a great start for what would soon become a not-to-be-missed date on any Carry On fan's calendar. |
Larry as Theodore Valentine in Carry On Emmannuelle
Taking a well earned break, between outrageous stories.
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