The Whippit Inn Summer Garden Party
May 20th 2012
The Grange, Ealing
Special guests: Alan Curtis, Hugh Futcher, Merlin Ward, Stephen Garlick, and Ian Whittaker.
With actress, and daughter / biographer of Harry H. Corbett, Susannah Corbett.
Event organised by Brett Tremble, Paul Stephen and Dean Barker
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This event was another favourite of mine. Held in the Summer house of the Grange pub, in Ealing, it was a perfect way to spend an afternoon with friends, and some delightful, talented actors as well. |
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A small reunion of sorts took place when Carry On regular Hugh Futcher sat alongside two-time series contributer Alan Curtis. They had played the two Spanish policemen in the gaol scenes of Carry On Abroad.
Both Alan and Hugh have a wealth of stories to tell from their many years of acting, and I could happily listen to them all day long. 
Alan and Hugh with some of the gang in Carry On Abroad
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Hugh Futcher as The Jailer in Carry On Abroad
Alan Curtis, and as the Police Chief in Carry On Abroad
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Alan Curtis became a good friend to several members of The Whippit Inn, and it was with great sadness that we learned of his passing in February 2021.
As well as Alan, we were fortunate to have three more stars make their Carry On event debut; Stephen Garlick, Guy Ward and Ian Whittaker.
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Actor turned DJ Stephen Garlick has been a fan of the Carry Ons from a young age, which is just as well, seeing as how he was part of a memorable storyline in Carry Doctor when he was a mere child. Stephen appeared as the young boy who had the chamber pot stuck on his head.
It was great to hear his memories of that film, his fondness of working with Anita Harris, and of his life since those days. |
Stephen in Carry On Doctor with Jim Dale and Marianne Stone
Stephen Garlick
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Guy in Carry On Emmannuelle, with Sentry, Malcolm Johns
It was a thrill to meet Guy Ward and hear his stories about his time on Carry On Emmannuelle. His part in that film is brief, but very memorable, playing the young man who steals the attention of Malcolm Johns' sentry away from the flirtatious Madame Prevert. I've often said that small roles in any film are just as important as leading parts. Life without incidental happenings, or a background, would be so very dull, and Guy is far from being that. |
Guy Ward
"Thank you very much for inviting me to your event yesterday. It was great fun. It was also very interesting hearing the other Carry On actors talking about their careers and to have the pleasure of holding an Oscar. Thank you very much for inviting me and for taking me down memory lane!"
Merlin (Guy) Ward |
Ian Whitaker appeared as the medical corporal in Carry On Sergeant. He was also to play a shop assistant in Carry On Regardless, but that scene was cut from the final edit of the film.
Ian moved from in front of the camera to pursue a different career in film, in the capacity of a set designer. Ian has worked on many iconic movies including Alien, Sense and Sensibility and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Ian moved from in front of the camera to pursue a different career in film, in the capacity of a set designer. Ian has worked on many iconic movies including Alien, Sense and Sensibility and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Ian as the Medical Corporal in Carry On Sergeant
And it was a career change that paid dividends, as his work on Howard’s End won him an actual Academy Award. This revelation in itself garnered a fantastic response from those attending, but the applause were exchanged for cheers when Ian reached into his plastic supermarket carrier bag, and presented his Oscar to the group. Wow... just wow. |
Ian Whittaker with his Oscar for Best Production Design, on the 1993 film "Howard's End".
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"I enjoyed the occasion very much and meeting you and your fellow members, as well as my fellow panellists, was a real pleasure. Cheers, Ian"
Ian Whittaker
The final guest wasn't in a Carry On film, but she is a successful actress, and had recently written a book about her father. He was an actor too, and he had been in a Carry On film. One of the best regarded films of the series. She is the lovely Susannah Corbett, and her father was of course the sooty-less legend Harry H. Corbett, who played Detective Sergeant Bung in Carry On Screaming.
Entitled ‘The Front Legs of the Cow’, Susannah was happy to sign copies of her book, as well as her children’s books ‘Dragon’s Dinner’ and ‘One Cool Cat’.
I'm still not sure how, but it felt as though Susannah spent at least half an hour chatting to each and every one of the people there, but that would have taken us well into the following Wednesday. I certainly enjoyed my "half hour" with her, chatting about Harry, and her own work on TV, in particular Dalziel and Pascoe. She said that she sadly never worked with her dad, but we both agreed that he would have made a brilliant Andy Dalziel in that series. Although, Warren Clarke was perfectly suited to it
Entitled ‘The Front Legs of the Cow’, Susannah was happy to sign copies of her book, as well as her children’s books ‘Dragon’s Dinner’ and ‘One Cool Cat’.
I'm still not sure how, but it felt as though Susannah spent at least half an hour chatting to each and every one of the people there, but that would have taken us well into the following Wednesday. I certainly enjoyed my "half hour" with her, chatting about Harry, and her own work on TV, in particular Dalziel and Pascoe. She said that she sadly never worked with her dad, but we both agreed that he would have made a brilliant Andy Dalziel in that series. Although, Warren Clarke was perfectly suited to it
Susannah Corbett
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Harry H. Corbett as Detective Sergeant Sidney Bung in Carry On Screaming
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Susannah's biography of her father
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I am glad Su's visit went down well and the fans enjoyed it.
We had a very nice afternoon ourselves. Dan Hallam (Susannah Corbett's husband) |
Following the fun, the glorious weather enabled everyone to chat, drink and mingle together in the garden, and celebrate all things Carry On!
