To Sir, with Love

Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) catches the No. 457 bus on his first day of teaching. London Country Route 457 ran between Uxbridge and Windsor via Slough. This appears to be on the A412 Uxbridge Road close to the junction with Billet Lane near Iver Heath.

Part of Thackeray's journey - Wapping station, Wapping High Street, London E1. The station was then on the East London section of the Metropolitan Line, just as it was when an almost identical scene for 'The Stable Door' was shot.

A modern 'Overground' station now.

Now the long commute involves another bus. Wapping Wall, London E1.

The three storey warehouse in the centre of the screen shot has gained an extra floor.

Further on the journey. Britmovie sources suggest St. Katharine's Way as the road crosses St Katharine Docks in London E1. One of the supports of Tower Bridge can be seen in the distance. The location can be seen in 'Soho Incident', 'The Stable Door'' and 'The Long Good Friday' while other views of the docks appear in 'Attack on the Iron Coast', 'Man of Violence', 'The Creeping Flesh', 'David Copperfield (1969)', 'The Buttercup Chain', 'To the Devil, a Daughter' and 'The Trygon Factor'.

Trust me, beyond the monolithic building is Tower Bridge.

Back in the City.

At least the buses are still red. Ludgate Hill, London EC4.

Thackeray's rather circuitous journey to the East End passes the Tower of London after crossing Tower Bridge. Route 15 ran between Ladbroke Grove and East Ham or Poplar at the time of filming.

The same corner. The bus in the screen shot is about to turn into East Smithfield.

Thackeray walks towards North Quay Secondary School. Watts Street looking towards Wapping Lane in London E1. To the left stand Watts Street Buildings that were demolished, creating Wapping Green where a scene from 'Three and Out' was shot.

Tom Lyons sent this now image of Watts Street, looking east towards Jackman House, Wapping E1.

Thackeray walks down Johnson Street, Shadwell looking towards the London, Tilbury & Southend Ralway line. Paul Singleton adds 'The large Victorian red-brick building to Poitier's left here is the old Johnson Street school that was, if memory serves, already closed at the time of filming. Some shots in the playground and with key characters entering/leaving, were shot in this school not the one in Windsor. I know that as I was there! As A child, I did some of the chalk wall-drawings just visible to Poitier's left here and more visible in other shots in the film around the gate entrance. A sad claim to fame!'

Same telegraph pole, different train.

North Quay Secondary School. Victoria Barracks, Sheet Street, Windsor looking towards Helena Street in the left of centre background.

The building used as the school in the screen shot has been demolished and replaced but this is Helena Street.

Thackeray talks to Seales (Anthony Villaroel) in the playground. Over the wall is the junction of Helena Street and Dagmar Road, Windsor. Thanks to members of the Britmovie forum for the location.

The Coldstream Guards don't allow visitors so this shot is from the other side of the wall.

Prior to the school outing. Johnson Street, Shadwell again. Paul Singleton remembers 'The Victorian building directly to the right of the bus here (just out of shot) was at the time the Vaughn Club - a social venue. Members of the cast would take a break and have drinks in there, though strictly speaking, it wasn't entirely legal under the licence terms. Sidney Poitier, I remember well, wasn't one of them. He tended to sit between takes in his own limo. There are other minor shots in the film showing "local street alleys" that were, in fact, filmed in the Vaughn Club's grounds'.

The same location in 2012 showing that the street now ends under the railway bridge.

The school outing returns via Tower Bridge.

Tower bridge decorated for the London 2012 Olympics.

Thackeray visits a local market. The stallholders include Mrs. Joseph (Rita Webb) a parent of one of the pupils. Bigland Street in E1.

The area has been redeveloped but the building right of centre background in the screen grab still exists.

Thackeray has heard that he has been accepted for a new job. Watney Street in E1 looking north towards the corner of Watney Passage in an area that has been redeveloped. Watney Street can also be seen in 'No Way Back'.

Facing north from roughly the same spot. PW

Running into Chapman Street on the way back to school. The public house in the background is The Lord Nelson on the corner of Watney Street and Martha Street.

The same corner, seen from Chapman Street.

Thackeray travels to attend a funeral. Tench Street in E1. The other end of this street was seen in 'The Alf Garnet Saga' and through the distant gates is a location from 'Murder in Reverse?'. Steven Hyde adds that the leaning bollard to the bottom right can be seen in a publicity shot of singer Morrissey.

Steven provides this shot of the same street and the same listing bollard.

Thackeray walking to attend the funeral of Seales' mother. As the sign states, Reardon Street in E1.

Reardon Street at the corner of Tench Street.

The pupils including Barbara Pegg (Lulu), attend Seales' mothers funeral. Juniper Street from Glamis Road, London E1. Stephen Holland tells us that his "Mum stopped the filming at one point. She was taking me out in my pram and as seen in the film Sidney Poitier runs the length of Glamis Road to reach the funeral, and Mum's pushing me out of the flats, right into the path of Sidney Poitier who falls over me and the pram/pushchair. Mum apologised and had a nice chat with him and the cast came round to see what the commotion was all about. Apparently they all took a shine to me as I was a striking looking child/baby."

This is roughly the spot but the area is now covered by the Glamis Estate.