Firefighters, The (Children’s Film Foundation)

Surrounded by smoke, Bob Grant (Simon Gipps-Kent) calls for help from a high building. The drying tower of Windsor Fire Station in St Mark's Road.

Sally (Sharon Fussey) and Tim Grant (Vincent Hall) watch with Station Officer Harrison (George Baker) as the firemen 'rescue' their brother during an exercise. The rear of the Fire Station on St Mark's Road, Windsor in Berkshire.

The siblings hurry from the fire station and head home, which happens to be next door. Windsor Fire Station on St Mark's Road. The station closed in 2013.

Malcolm Tinnelly found it difficult to gauge the exact position of the Fire Station.

Bob, Sally and Tim run to the shed at the rear of the house to make tea for the firemen. St Mark's Road in Windsor. Although not looking that old, the property has since been replaced.

While the children prepare tea a call is received and the firemen drive off to answer the 'shout'. Looking towards Alma Road from outside the Fire Station on St Mark's Road. The junction was seen in 'Follow a Star' and 'Carry On Cabby'.

At least the other side of the road remains much the same. (RL)

The appliance speeds through housing estate roads as the children follow on bikes.

The camera tracks the Karrier Gamerock as it races to the film's Harefield Gardens.

The children bring the tea and cake along. When he was 16 years old, Richard Kennedy watched filming take place one Saturday morning and easily recognised Maple Avenue, Yiewsley in Greater London, outside number 40 with Whitethorn Avenue in the left distance.

Station Officer Harrison discovers that the call out is to rescue a cat which is stuck up a tree. Outside number 50 Colham Avenue in Yiewsley located by Richard Kennedy who adds that Otter Dock, a long filled in leg of the Grand Union Canal, once ran along the middle of the road.

The Grant children arrive as Harrison and Fireman Stark (Sam Kydd) watch their colleague carry the cat down from the tree. Colham Avenue identified by Richard Kennedy who, two years after watching these scenes being shot, started at the London Fire Brigade Training Centre before enjoying a firefighting career of 32 years.

As his brother and sister serve tea and cake to the firemen, Bob races off to pay a gas bill for his Mum. Copper Mill Lane running alongside the Grand Union Canal as it passes through Harefield in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Antony Blair provides this comparison shot of the location.

Copper Mill Lane as it bridges the Grand Union Canal in Harefield. The area was seen in 'Sons and Lovers'.

A far clearer view of the bridges by Antony.

Bob speeds around a dangerous bend on his way into town. This is where Copper Mill Lane becomes Park Lane in Harefield.

Risking life and limb, Antony captured the dangerous bend and brought peace once again to Harefield.

A car approaches and fails to stop at the junction. The corner of Park Lane and Summerhouse Lane in Harefield. The lovely structure at the entrance to the Bell Works has, of course, been demolished.

This shot from Antony Blair sadly confirms that the tower has gone but the grand building in the background still stands behind the trees.

An angry Mike (Richard Wren) and his mate Terry (David Howe) get out of the car as Bob picks himself up after colliding with the car. Park Lane opposite Summerhouse Lane. The background buildings no longer exist.

Antony's view shows that there's not much opposite the junction now.

The two youths argue while Bob rides off. Looking to the north-east from the corner of Park Lane and Summerhouse Lane, Harefield, formerly in Middlesex.

Looking down the hill from the junction , Antony Blair's image shows the grand house still stands in the background.

Mike and Terry go in search of a suitable factory to rob.

A Security Guard with a dog protects the first place that the pair arrive at.

Searching further, the two thieves come across a radio factory.

As Mike and Terry break into the radio factory, Bob makes it to the showroom before it closes. Richard Kennedy identifies the premises as 162 High Street, Uxbridge adding that this former North Thames Gas Board Showroom closed in the 1980s and is currently a Five Guys hamburger restaurant.

After the robbery, the youths set fire to the factory and drive away before Bob appears on his way home to discover smoke coming from the building.

Firemen tackle the blaze as Harrison thanks Bob for alerting them.

Mike and Terry make repairs to the car whilst planning their next robbery. Looking towards Vansittart Road from Duke Street with Gardner Cottages left of centre.

Malcolm Tinnelly returned to the location 47 years after filming to find a variety of parked cars.

Accompanied by his father, Bob makes a statement at the police station. This lamp was seen in 'The Alphabet Murders' as well as 'Eyewitness' from 1956 and Mark Dean advises that it belongs to the old Uxbridge Police Station on Windsor Street, Uxbridge, Middlesex.

Now "The Fig Tree". (RL)

The next morning, Mike and Terry cruise through an industrial estate.

The shot pans with the car.

The two get out of the Ford Anglia when they spot Bob cycling towards them. The railway arches forming the boundary of the Vansittart Trading Estate in Windsor. The arches were seen in 'On the Beat'.

The curve of the railway viaduct is unmistakable in Malcolm Tinnelly's shot.

Mike and Terry grab hold of Bob who tries to defend himself with an iron bar. The railway arches stand on, what is now, the Vansittart Estate in Windsor and the property seen to the extreme left stands on Barry Avenue.

Malcolm Tinnelly spotted an extension to the property on the left.

Escaping from the two thugs, Bob rides away, almost getting run down by Detective Sergeant Carter and Detective Constable Palmer. Continuity is good, this is Barry Avenue in Windsor, Berkshire.

Malcolm Tinnelly provides this comparison of Barry Avenue.

Having used the iron bar to gain entry into a watch factory, Mike and Terry leave the premises after stealing watches and setting another fire. An entrance way to the former Metal Box works in Reading, since demolished and redeveloped as St. Giles Close.

Andrew Price found that the factory wall has long gone, replaced by housing, though the house fronts do not follow the alignment of the wall.

The fire takes hold as Mike and Terry drive away, leaving the iron bar behind. Facing north-east on Church Street.

Andrew advises that the Huntley, Boorne and Stevens works made, amongst other things, biscuit tins for parent company Huntley and Palmers. Production at the site ended in 1969, being transferred to premises on the former Woodley Aerodrome.

On patrol, the Detective's car approaches the watch factory. The corner of Church Street and Letcombe Street in Reading with St Giles Church in the background.

The slightly different angle by Andrew allows a comparable view of the arched window in Grade II listed St. Giles Church.

Detective Sergeant Carter (Joseph Brady) radios for the fire brigade as Detective Constable Palmer (Ken Kitson) stands by. Church Street in Reading.

Andrew fount that the current austerity means it is now left to community pigeons to patrol Reading's streets.

The fire fighters appear on the scene. This appliance is an AEC Merryweather TL that was based in Reading.

Nearby, one section of factory wall remains as part of the After Dark Night Club. A planning application to demolish the club, including the wall, was rejected by Reading Borough Council's Planning Committee in 2016. Information and modern image from Andrew Price.

The Detectives call on the Grant's house after evidence is found that Bob may have started the fire at the watch factory. In the top background can be seen the spire of Holy Trinity Church, Windsor.

The firemen return to the station after leaving the watch factory. Facing east on St. Mark's Road, Windsor.

Malcolm Tinnelly returned to the location.

Fireman Jordan (David Allister) and Fireman Stark watch as Bob is driven away. Looking onto St. Mark's Road in Windsor.

Taken from the location of the Fire Station by Malcolm Tinnelly.

As Bob, Tim and Sally piece together clues as to who has been lighting the fires, Mike and Terry arrive outside a camera factory. Looking onto Southampton Street in Reading from the, then recently closed, Metal Box Works.

Andrew Price advises that "It is impossible to reproduce the screen capture as the Southampton Street works entrance has since been built over. This is the view from Southampton Street itself showing the terrace of three-storey town houses still intact."

When Bob remembers a football club sticker in the window of the youth's car, the children check out the football ground where the Bramley Bees are playing. The driveway of Maidenhead United FC's York Road ground in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Scanning the spectators at the match, Bob recognises Terry near the goal and the children follow him after the final whistle. Maidenhead United's ground off York Road in Maidenhead. The location is also seen in 'The Card' as well as 'Yesterday's Hero'.

Andrew Price points out that the terrace now is divided into sections.

Terry manages to board a bus that's just departing. Looking towards Broadway on Grove Road, Maidenhead. The distant tower block is Berkshire House on High Street.

Close to Maidenhead station and Crossrail, Andrew found that new apartment blocks are starting to dominate the area.

Promising to be home by four thirty, Bob leaves while Sally and Tim follow the bus. Facing west on York Road at the junction with Grove Road in Maidenhead. Maidenhead FC's club house stands to the left.

Andrew Price captured the view outside the ground's gates now.

The bus leaves the children behind as they struggle up a hill.

The two make it to the terminus at the station. Facing High Street from Manor House Lane, Datchet, traditionally in Buckinghamshire.

A changed view now. (PW)

Sally catches sight of Terry as he crosses the station footbridge. Looking towards the station from Manor House Lane in Datchet. The location was also seen in 'Stolen Assignment' and 'Made in Heaven' . . . . .

. . . . but it can't be seen now. (PW)

Carrying their bikes over the bridge, Sally and Tim follow Terry. Datchet station footbridge, linking the platforms as well as Manor House Lane and the other station entrance on The Avenue.

A fair match. (PW)

The two youngsters turn a corner. The corner of Latimer Road and Snarsgate Street in London W10.

The same corner as it appears today,captured by Antony Blair (AB).

Terry is spotted across the road. Latimer Road in Notting Hill. The derelict properties have been replaced with industrial units.

Mike arrives to join Terry. Latimer Road in London W10 with the Jubilee Hall behind the white van to the left and the Westway in the distance. The tower blocks stand on Darfield Way.

Antony (AB) took this view looking south on Latimer Road with the A40 flyover in the background.

The two see Mike and Terry hide the stolen watches in an old fridge and hear them planning to meet the next day at 'The Laughing Tar'. The background buildings still stand on Latimer Road.

Sally runs to a telephone box to call Detective Sergeant Carter. Looking onto Latimer Road in W10. The location was seen in 'Thriller - Kill Two Birds'.

Tim and Sally wait for the Sergeant as Mike returns and picks up the watches. Don't let the prop sign fool you, this is outside a now demolished works on Latimer Road.

When Detective Sergeant Carter arrives, the two take him into the building but the evidence has gone.

Mike approaches The Laughing Sailor pub. In reality this was the Stag & Hounds public house on Windsor Road, Bray Wick.

The Laughing Sailor has gone upmarket and is now The Emperor of India restaurant.

Pulling into a car park, Mike meets with Terry. Facing south-east on Windsor Road.

The same location taken from ground level. (AB)

Deciphering the the name of pub, the Grant children arrive in the car park as the two thieves are breaking into the factory. Windsor Road with the Stag & Hounds pub to the right.

Inside the car park of the what is presently the Emperor of India restaurant. (AB)

Bob lets the tyres down on Mike's car before the three head to the camera factory. The background building is Braywick House on Windsor Road, Bray Wick, Maidenhead.

Looking from the car park across the main road to the building which is now obscured by trees. (AB)

When he spots the children as he drives past, Detective Constable Palmer radios Detective Sergeant Carter. Windsor Road in Bray Wick near Bray. The background building has been replaced.

And this is the replacement building. (AB)

Detective Sergeant Carter heads to the Grant's house. St Mark's Road in Windsor.

The same stretch of road captured by Malcolm Tinnelly.

After picking up Mr Grant, Detective Sergeant Carter speeds away to join Detective Constable Palmer.

The police car corners whilst, at the factory, Mike lights a fire.

Having discovered Mike and Terry stealing cameras, Sally and Bob are trapped inside the factory when the two thieves escape. This is the former Metal Box Works off Crown Street, Reading. Properties on St Giles Close now occupy this site.

The car carrying Mr Grant and Detective Sergeant Carter arrives at the factory as the fire brigade are alerted. Facing southward towards the junction with Crown Street on Southampton Street in Reading.

Andrew Price points out that, at the bottom of the picture, the slightly darker kerb stones mark where the turning into the factory once was.

When they see the police car on the other side of the gate, Mike and Terry hide themselves. Inside the former Metal Box Works in Reading.

The darker-bricked building to the left is where the entrance to the factory would have been. Comparison shot by Andrew.

Bob and Sally call from the building as the fire takes hold inside. This is the Metal Box Works and the background buildings are those already seen on Southampton Street.

As the firemen tackle the blaze and rescue Bob and Sally, the two thieves make their escape. Looking towards Southampton Street from the former Metal Box Works.

The entrance where once hundreds of factory workers would have poured through is now home to parked cars and rotary washing lines. Comparison by Andrew Price.

The flat tyres prevent a getaway leaving Mike and Terry to be taken into custody. The car park of the Stag & Hounds pub.

As Mike and Terry are taken away, Bob, Sally and Tim are collected by fire engine. Windsor Road, Bray Wick between Maidenhead and Windsor in Berkshire.

Looking across the A308 Windsor Road now. (AB)