Wish You Were Here

Date: 1987
Director: David Leland
Production Company: Zenith Ent., Working Title Films, Channel Four Films

Stars: Emily Lloyd, Tom Bell, Jesse Birdsall, Clare Clifford, Barbara Durkin, Geoffrey Hutchings, Lee Whitlock, Pat Heyward, Kim McDermott
Location(s): East Sussex, West Sussex

Region(s):

Storyline:

In a staid English seaside town after the Second World War, young rebellious Lynda grows up with her widowed father and younger sister.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

 

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During the titles Lynda Mansell (Emily Lloyd) cycles along the sea front. The Esplanade, Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

Stephen Dean took the photo. Only a pier stump remains.

Lynda passes a seaside entertainer (Trudy Cavanagh). The Esplanade, Bognor Regis. The Esplanade has been rebuilt since filming.

Stephen Dean again. Spot on.

Lynda and her father, Hubert Mansell (Geoffrey Hutchings), look up at the frontage of the family business. Rowlands Road, Worthing. The shop is currently in use as a restaurant.

Dean dunnit!

Hubert, Lynda and her sister Margaret (Chloë Leland) at the front of the shop. Rowlands Road.

Stephen snapped it.

The three walk along the parade to Wesson's Fish & Chip shop. Rowlands Road, Worthing.

Stephen once more.

Lynda and Margaret wait for their father. Rowlands Road.

Another from Stephen.

During a flashback - Lynda (Charlotte Ball) and her sister (Abigail Leland) outside the family home just after the war. York Road, Worthing, West Sussex.

Now shot by Richard Lovejoy. All very much the same 25 years on.

Hubert Mansell returns home after serving in the Navy. York Road, Worthing, looking towards Marine Parade.

Richard waited...but no one came!

Lynda, Margaret and their mother (Susan Skipper) walk along the street with Aunt Millie (Pat Heywood) to meet Hubert. York Road, Worthing.

Richard wonders 'Perhaps if I had gone during the Queen's Jubilee it would have looked the same'.

At the bowling green Lynda is informed that Uncle Harry has a job for her at the bus garage. Queens Park Bowling Green, Brighton. Kemp Town Bowls Club stopped using the green in March 2007 because of "violent yobs". (SD)

The bowling green hut, nine years too late to be a "now" shot. The reason is, I recently discovered that the hut was badly damaged by fireworks in November 2012. It was then demolished on 19th November 2012. So in memory of the hut I've included this photo that I took on 29th September 2012. (SD)

Lynda teases some local boys as she cycles along the sea front. The Esplanade, Bognor Regis. Various aspects of the resort are seen in 'Summer Holiday', 'Consuming Passions', 'Poor Cow' and 'The Leather Boys'.

Stephen, by the seaside.

Lynda asks Brian (Lee Whitlock) to take her out. The Esplanade, Bognor Regis.

........and another from Stephen. Very well done that man.

Another tease as Brian cycles away. The Esplanade, Bognor Regis.

The beach is much higher now and the ramp is buried. Stephen.

Lynda starts a new job with the local bus company. The former Southdown Garage, Library Place, Worthing, West Sussex.

Richard was on the case - 'The garage yard no longer has a roof. With grateful thanks to the Stagecoach Managers who allowed me access and were so helpful and informative'.

Bus Conductor Dave (Jesse Birdsall) spots Lynda as she walks across the garage. Stagecoach Bus Depot, Library Place, Worthing.

Just a wall and emergency exit here now. Now shot by Richard Lovejoy.

Brian realises, 1 hour and 43 minutes into 'Love Story', that it's not a Betty Grable film. Worthing Dome cinema, Marine Parade, Worthing. (SD)

On 23rd April 2017 The Dome hosted the 'Wish You Were Here' 30th anniversary celebration which was attended by the director David Leland (seen here just left of centre) and Emily Lloyd. Joining David on stage are many of the Worthing residents who had appeared in the film as extras. (SD)

Lynda causes uproar in the bus garage and is dismissed from her job. Stagecoach Bus Depot, Library Place, Worthing.

The Office frontage has long gone but was real, not a set, say bus garage staff. Now shot by Richard Lovejoy.

After the dance, Lynda and Dave leave the Roxy Ballroom to go back to his house. Rustington Village Hall, Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, West Sussex. (SD)

The fire exit at the side of Rustington Village Hall, now known as The Woodlands Centre. Not only was the main hall used for the ballroom, the smaller rear hall was used as the British Legion hall. (SD)

Lynda argues with her father in the back garden of their house. The rear of York Road off Alfred Place Worthing.

Most of what was the garden is now a car parking area. Stephen. Well identified.

Hubert watches as Lynda cycles away down the alley at the back of their house. Alleyway off Alfred Place, Worthing.

'No lighting down there now!' says Richard.

Lynda overtakes Dave's Uncle Brian (William Lawford).

Chesswood Road, Worthing. House long gone and replaced by sheltered housing. Stephen.

Lynda watches outside Dave's grandmothers house.

Chesswood Road, Worthing. All that remains is the left side gate post and the tree. Stephen.

Uncle Brian enters Dave's home. 50 Chesswood Road in Worthing located by Stephen Dean.

50 Chesswood Road along with 48 was demolished in the early 90s, The care home which replaced it is numbered 48. It has taken me 8 years to realise that the entrance to Dave's grandmothers house was at the side, so I have replaced my original photo, now viewed from the correct position. (SD)

Lynda gets a job serving fish and chips on the sea front.

Splash Point, Worthing – completely redesigned. Stephen. Background houses still there.

Lynda poses in the bus garage. The former Southdown Garage, Library Place, Worthing.

Richard Lovejoy strikes again. 'Nobody posing now, only working! Again, thanks to the Garage Management for allowing me access and for the assistance and information, much appreciated'.

Lynda leaves home and goes to live with Eric at the Dome Cinema. Marine Parade, Worthing.

A good shot but Richard says 'If only I could have shot from inside the Dome'.

Capture 23 repeated.

Viewed from the first floor terrace of the Dome Cinema. The terrace is not normally open to the public, but is currently being used for extra seating by the Worthing Dome Vintage Tea Room. (SD)

At the door of the Dome Cinema, Marine Parade, Worthing, West Sussex.

Richard found that the door had been somewhat remodeled.

After Eric finds Lynda in his room, she comes over to join him on the bed. The top floor of the tower on the Dome Cinema. (SD)

The Dome tower was restored from 2005 to 2007 and is now a function room known as The Whispering Gallery. I took advantage of an open day to take this photo. (SD)

Tilting up from capture 28. Marine Parade, Worthing.

Another now shot from Richard Lovejoy. Thank goodness for conservation and listing.

Tilting further. The Dome Cinema, Marine Parade, Worthing.

Apparently Richards wife was not prepared to stand there to recreate the shot!

The cinema has been restored since filming. Marine Parade, Worthing.

Sorted by Stephen.

Eric (Tom Bell) leaves the Dome Cinema. Marine Parade next to Library Place, Worthing.

The best that Richard could do from ground level. Nice restoration though.

Lynda has her photograph taken with other waitresses at her new workplace. The Warnes Hotel, Marine Parade, Worthing. (SD)

Originally this was the location of the entrance to the Warnes Hotel, The hotel was gutted by fire in 1987 and demolished in 1992. It was replaced by a luxury apartment block also known as Warnes. The Warnes Hotel was also seen in 'Up the Junction'. (SD)

The photographer takes the waitress's photo outside the Paris Cafe. The Esplanade, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

Originally the parking bay at the entrance to The Royal Hotel, Bognor Regis. An almost identical shot appears in ‘The Punch and Judy Man’. Stephen.

Eric waits for Lynda outside the Paris Cafe. The Berkeley Hotel, Marine Parade, Worthing. The cast and crew stayed here during filming. This is the back of the hotel viewed from Surrey Street. (SD)

The Berkeley Hotel is now a Travelodge. Identified by members of the film crew who were attending the Wish You Were Here 30th anniversary event at the Dome cinema. (SD)

Eric follows Lynda and Vickie, until Lynda confronts him with the news that she is pregnant. The overwalk between the East Beach Chalets, Beach Parade, Worthing. (SD)

The overwalk was removed in 2011 and there is now a water feature called Splash Pad at the Gap which opened in 2014. (SD)

Vickie takes Lynda to an abortionist. Marine Parade, Worthing, opposite the Old Coastguard House, (SD)

The shingle has been piled up high in the intervening years. (SD)

Vickie (Kim McDermott) finds the abortionist's house. The Old Coastguard House, 110 Marine Parade, Worthing. (SD)

This is at the rear of The Old Coastguard House. (SD)

As her Aunt Millie (Pat Heywood) leaves the cafe, Lynda stares at the money that she has given her. Macari's Cafe, Rock Gardens, Bognor Regis. (SD)

An interior location which has become an exterior location. The cafe was demolished in 1993 and the site is now a BMX and Skate Park. (SD)

Lynda walks along the seafront, sad, dejected and lonely. Marine Parade, Worthing, opposite Rye Close. (SD)

Now, with the flood barriers in place and the addition of a few beach huts. (SD)

Some months pass and Lynda returns to her home town after having a baby. Stagecoach Bus Depot, Library Place, Worthing.

Richard notes that she wasn't asked to wear a high visibility jacket.

Lynda pushes her pram across the bowling green where her father plays. Queens Park Bowling Green, Brighton, West Sussex.

Stephen the sleuth found this one.

Lynda pushes her pram through the park. Queen's Park, on the east side of the lake. (SD)

Queen's Park was also seen in 'Rogues Yarn'. (SD)

Returning home. York Road, Worthing, West Sussex.

Richard Lovejoy took the shot and adds 'After 25 years they were probably out at work or Christmas shopping'.

Lynda takes her baby inside. York Road at the junction with Alfred Place, Worthing, West Sussex.

And another one from Richard Lovejoy 'One shouldn't complain about warm winter sunshine but it did ruin this shot!'