Carry On Laughing in Ealing
November 7th 2021
Drayton Court Hotel, Ealing
Special guests: Laraine Humphrys, Billy Cornelius, Linda Regan, Melita Manger,
Don McCorkindale, Kaplan Kaye, Louise Burton, Laura Collins and Larry Dann.
With Carry On biographer Robert Ross, and the legendary Brian Murphy.
Event organised by Paul Stephen and Dean Barker
An illustrious panel of guests joined in the fun at ‘Carry On Laughing in Ealing’ in November 2021. After the obligatory Carry On quiz, and introductions, it was time to get the ball rolling. Since our last meeting, 26 months earlier, we had sadly lost a number of those who helped make the Carry On legend what we love today. In particular, we lost three Whippit Inn friends; Brian Osborne, Margaret Nolan and Alan Curtis. |
After what seemed like an eternity, we were thrilled to be able to carry on again with our Carry On Laughing in Ealing event. After a tough year for all, it was wonderful to be reunited with everyone and share our love for the iconic comedy film series.
The obligatory Carry On quiz was on the tables for guests to peruse before the event started, and if you’d like to have a go, the questions can be found at the bottom of this page, and the answers are just a click away.
The obligatory Carry On quiz was on the tables for guests to peruse before the event started, and if you’d like to have a go, the questions can be found at the bottom of this page, and the answers are just a click away.
After we welcomed our celebrated gang of Carry On stars to the floor, we were treated to a showing of a ‘lost’ Kenneth Williams advert, promoting BP Heatsave. Thanks to Adam Endacott, author of the Kenneth Williams Companion, we were able to see the advert that had been presumed lost for over 40 years. The advert was the first ‘in person’ television advertisement done by Kenneth, with his previous works being voice-over roles. Adam was on hand to introduce the clip on the day and we are grateful he was able to share this with us.
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Kenneth Williams biographer - Adam Endacott
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Comedy Historian - Robert Ross
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Carry On author and all-round comedy historian Robert Ross also joined us on the day and treated us to a reading of his newly published book ‘Forgotten Heroes of Comedy’. The book is an essential buy for comedy lovers, and looks into the comedy ‘underdog’. All those wonderful performers who don’t seem to get the recognition and credit they so richly deserve.
Robert read a passage on Carry On favourite Patsy Rowlands from the book and explained how the book came to be. Other Carry On actors featured include Harry Locke, Michael Ward and Mario Fabrizi. For more information, and to purchase a copy, head to www.robertross.co.uk |
Before the chat with our star guests commenced, we took a moment to remember those Carry On faces who had sadly left us since our last event in 2019. A special compilation video was played, featuring the Carry On work of some of those stars, and there was hardly a dry eye in the house. A special salute was given to those who had joined us on previous visits; Alan Curtis, Margaret Nolan, Rosalind Knight and Brian Osborne. A toast to absent friends was then raised to salute their life and work.
Gone, but never forgotten
Alan Curtis, Margaret Nolan, Rosalind Knight and Brian Osborne
Alan Curtis, Margaret Nolan, Rosalind Knight and Brian Osborne
Former child star, the wonderful Kaplan Kaye made his Carry On event debut. Kaplan played the little lad at the toy exhibition in Carry On Regardless who memorably told Kenneth Williams to ride the rocking horse himself. Kaplan’s father was Carry On star Davy Kaye, and he recalled how he spent time on the set of Carry On Cowboy as a youngster, watching his father perform. Since acting, Kaplan has turned his hand to the music industry and performs with the successful duo ‘The Ukaye Ukes’. |
Kaplan as the young boy at the Exhibition Centre
Davy Kaye as Josh Moses in Carry On Cowboy
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Louise in Carry On Emmannuelle
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Also making their event debut was Louise Burton. A familiar face in classic comedy of the 70’s and 80’s, Louise appeared in two Carry On films, Carry On England and Carry On Emmannuelle. In Carry On Emmannuelle, Louise memorably played the girl at the zoo in Lyons’ flashback sequence. In the scene, they can both be seen with a lollipop, and of course we had some on hand for great photograph opportunities. It was a pleasure to welcome Louise on the day and everybody was pleased to finally meet her. Louise kindly donated the money from autograph sales to a local charity supporting the homeless and people who have fallen on hard times.
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Laraine Humphrys joined us for a second time at the inn, having been with us back in 2009. Laraine unforgettably appeared in three Carry On productions; as Miss Fircombe contestant Eileen Denby in Carry On Girls, as a Bird of Paradise in Carry On Dick and as a harassed customer in 1973’s Carry On Christmas 73. It was lovely to hear her Carry On memories once more and a pleasure to welcome her back.
Laraine in Carry On Dick
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Laraine in publicity for Carry On Girls
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Don McCorkindale as Tubby in Carry On Cabby
Freddie Mills as the Jewel Thief in Carry On Constable
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Don McCorkindale made his Whippit Inn debut at the event and it was a privilege to welcome him on the day. Don appeared as a recruit in the very first Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant, and was able to share his experiences of making the film. Life soon mirrored art, as Don was then called up for his real-life national service. Upon his return to civvy street, Don joined the Carry On team again for Carry On Cabby, in which he played Tubby, one of the Speedee drivers. Don’s stepfather, the late boxer Freddie Mills, also appeared in two Carry On films; Constable and Regardless. |
Laura wowed us on all the day by revealing that her father Leslie had also been in a number of Carry On films, most notable as the double bass player in the string quartet in the classic dinner party scene in Carry On Up the Khyber. Laura told us how, like Kaplan, she was a regular visitor to Pinewood Studios to see her dad working on the films.
Laura's father Leslie playing the double bass in Up the Khyber
We were privileged to be joined by actress Melita Manger, and to reunite her with her on-screen husband Billy Cornelius. They memorably played the holidaying couple in Carry On Behind whose salad lunch is disturbed by Windsor Davies’ beach ball falling into it. This was the first time they had met since that day of filming in 1975, and it was a wonderful moment to witness their reunion. Melita was a familiar face in television comedies of the era with roles in classic comedies such as Sykes, Dad’s Army and Are You Being Served?
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Melita in Carry On Behind
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Billy in Carry On Behind
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Billy Cornelius is no stranger to Carry On fans having worked on 9 of the films, in addition to episodes of ATV’s Carry On Laughing and Carry On Christmas 1972. Billy's most memorable roles include Oddbod Jr in Carry On Screaming and the patient in plaster in Carry On Again Doctor. |
Beach balls were of course on hand for photo opportunities with the two stars, and they very kindly signed one which has been auctioned on our Whippit Inn Facebook group to raise funds for the charity Centrepoint, giving young homeless people shelter and a new start in life.
We were delighted to be joined once again by Larry Dann. Larry’s Carry On career saw him in the early Anglo days of the series with a role in Carry On Teacher, and then promoted to a starring role as Theodore Valentine in Carry On Emmannuelle, the last of the original run of the films in 1978. This was the fourth time Larry has joined us at our events, and it is always like meeting up with an old friend. Larry is close friends with our fellow guest Kaplan Kaye, and it was a joy to see the two together enjoying their special day.
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Larry in Carry On England
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Linda in Carry On England
Linda and her husband, Brian Murphy, with Frendy Four Paws
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And lastly, we were joined by comedy favourites Linda Regan and her husband, Brian Murphy. Linda made her Carry On debut in Carry On Again Christmas, and had a more prominent role in Carry On England six years later. Linda is no stranger to classic comedies with roles in such productions as On the Buses, Doctor in Charge and as yellowcoat April in 24 episodes of Hi-De-Hi. This was Linda’s first time with us in the Inn and it was lovely to hear her memories of working on the Carry Ons, especially her encounter with Barbara Windsor on Carry On Again Christmas. Although Brian Murphy did not appear in Carry On film, he delighted us with tales of his illustrious career, including memories of working on George and Mildred with the late Yootha Joyce. |