Carry on Admiral

As junior ratings march past, Admiral Sir Maximillian Godfrey (A. E. Matthews) hands his granddaughter Jane Godfrey (Eunice Gayson) the outboard motor for her boat. Vernon Creek within the now heavily redeveloped Portsmouth Dockyard in Hampshire.

Mark Alford returned to the location.

Lieutenant Commander Peter Fraser (Brian Reece) and Salty Simpson (Ronald Shiner) watch as Jane descends to her tiny boat. The background building is the Old Customs House, now a pub within the Gunwharf Quays development.

Bob Hind confirms the location as The Customs House on Gunwharf in Portsmouth and has provided this image of the location now.

Salty Simpson steers to avoid Jane in the harbour as she attempts to restart her craft's motor. Portsmouth Harbour, with Middle Slip Jetty in the background. (SD)

In 2017 Middle Slip Jetty was renamed Princess Royal Jetty. Viewed from the waterbus to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales which is berthed at HMNB Portsmouth. SD

Oilskins are loaned to Jane after she's fished out of the water. Portsmouth Harbour with the Lion Gate and old Semaphore Tower on South Railway Jetty in the centre distance.

Chris and James Churcher capture the first "now" for this film and without foreground intrusion. (RL)

Peter watches as Jane walks away after forgiving the two for dunking her in the harbour. Vernon Creek with Vernon Jetty in the background.

Now in the background are the shops and restaurants of Gunwharf Quays, with the Spinnaker Tower on the left. SD

Parliamentary Secretary Tom Baker (David Tomlinson) arrives at the Harbour Hotel, where his old friend Peter Fraser is also a guest. The Union public house on the corner of Broad Street and Bath Square.

Chris and James reveal that it would be difficult now to get so close by car. (RL)

After the two friends exchange clothing during a drunken evening, Lieutenants Dodson and Lashwood arrive at the hotel to pick up their new captain. Since the 90s, The Union has been combined with the Coal Exchange public house next door and is currently known as The Spice Island Inn.

David O'Donogue looked down on the scene as it appears today.

A Sailor salutes as Lieutenant Dodson (Derek Blomfield) loads the wrong man into the car and takes him to HMS Sherwood. In the right background stands the Still & West public house on Bath Square in Old Portsmouth.

Facing the same way now by David O'Donogue.

The car enters the Naval Dockyard. The Unicorn Gate in Portsmouth in Hampshire, once at the junction of Unicorn Way, Flathouse Road and Copenhagen Way, now in the centre of a roundabout on Circular Road.

Lieutenant Lashwood (Peter Coke) and Lieutenant Dodson escort a protesting Tom Baker onto the ship. Basin Wharf, Chatham Dockyard, Chatham, Kent. The building on the right is Pumphouse No. 5 which is now used as a distillery. (SD)

Believing him to be the Parliamentary Secretary, Willy Oughton-Formby (Desmond Walter-Ellis) welcomes Peter Fraser to Admiralty House. The result of long research, Steve Randall found that this is HMS Vernon’s Wardroom, at the shore establishment set up in 1923 on the Gunwharf site in Portsmouth.

Replaced in 2001 by the Roundhouse apartment building. SD

After his actions give cause for concern, Tom is dispatched to a Naval Hospital. Royal Masonic Junior School, London Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire. This is on the west side of the school, facing south east, with the main gate on the right. (SD)

Tom is assisted from the ambulance and into the building where he's seen by a Psychiatrist. Royal Masonic Junior School, London Road, Bushey. This is on the west side of the school at the entrance to the cloister. On the left are the boarding houses. (SD)

When she finds out where Tom has been taken to, Susan Lashwood (Peggy Cummins) arrives to rescue him. Royal Masonic School, Bushey. On the west side of the school, at the entrance to the cloister, with the playing field in the background. (SD)

Making their way from the building, the two contact Peter and head back to the hotel. Royal Masonic Junior School, Bushey. The school is now The Grange Academy. The buildings seen here were demolished in 2011 when the school was modernised. This is now where the main entrance is. (SD)

Still wearing his friends clothing, the Lieutenant Commander cycles through town towards the Harbour Hotel. Park Avenue Road, Tottenham, N17. (SD)

When the gates of a level crossing close as he approaches, Peter picks up his bike and heads towards the footbridge. Northumberland Park railway station, Park Avenue Road, Tottenham. The level crossing was removed in 2019. (SD)

Peter finally reaches the hotel where he exchanges clothes with Tom. The Union pub from Bath Square with the water of the Outer Camber in the left background.

David O'Donogue provides this comparison.

As Captain Fraser finally joins his ship, Susan and Tom head to Admiralty House. Alan Twinam found High Street in Bushey, Hertfordshire, opposite the White Hart public house.

The view today, with a more recent lamp post. (SR)

The camera pans to follow the car. High Street, Bushey facing north, identified by Alan Twinam.

Today's view includes the Catholic church which arrived on the scene in 1959. (SR)

Susan and Tom near Admiralty House. The approach to HMS Vernon’s Wardroom, found by Steve Randall.

This is now City Quay Square at Gunwharf Quays and is viewed from outside Boots. SD

At Admiralty House, everything turns out well as the Admiral's granddaughter and her friend Susan save the day. Steve Randall locates HMS Vernon’s Wardroom which was demolished in 2000 to make way for the development of Gunwharf Quays.

The Roundhouse apartment building now occupies the site. SD