San Ferry Ann

The film opens with a view of the Eastern Docks at Dover in Kent.

The shot pans to reveal more of the Customs Shed. The dock complex and surrounding roads were seen in 'Contraband - Spain', 'Johnny English', 'Bond of Fear', 'Calling All Cars', 'Diamonds are Forever' and 'The Fourth Protocol'.

Cars begin to queue for the ferry. A view of the Car Ferry Terminal and the loading ramps at the landward end of the West Jetty.

Dad (David Lodge) notices a flat tyre on the family Dormobile. Looking back toward the cliff face below Cliff Road.

A Hitchhiker (Barbara Windsor) and her fellow Traveller (Ronnie Stevens) walk towards the ferry. In the background stands the Customs Shed.

The pair squeeze through a gap in the fence and head for the ship. The Car Ferry Terminal at Dover Eastern Docks with one of the pairs of loading ramp portals in the background.

Mum (Joan Sims) talks with Grandma (Lynne Carol) while Dad attempts to change a wheel.

As the queue of vehicles begins to move, a young Lover drives his girlfriend onto the ferry.

Passengers look back at the White Cliffs of Dover as the ferry departs for France.

The Townsend Thoresen ferry approaches Calais Harbour. The bow doors are open as the ship comes in to dock, a practice that was stopped after the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster in 1987.

Arriving at Calais Port in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Vehicles are directed away from the port after passing through customs control. Calais Port has seen a great deal of redevelopment and the Customs Hall no longer stands.

Dad drives the wrong way around a rond point. In the left background stands one of the Calais Maritime station signal boxes with water towers beyond.

A stereotypical Frenchman (Tex Fuller) cycles on his bike loaded with onions towards a lifting bridge. Looking along Rue Lamy toward Place de Suède in Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Howard Baker provides this comparative shot nearly 55 years on. (RL)

Still driving on the wrong side of the road, Dad forces the Frenchman off the road and into the canal. Pont Vetillard bascule bridge has since been replaced with a beam bridge.

Howard advises that although the tower looks similar to that in the capture it has actually been rebuilt. Additionally, he tells us that Mr de Gaulle was married his sweetheart in 1921 in the church left of centre. (RL)

A boat heads for the now open bridge. The entrance to the Calais to Saint-Omer Canal.

The family look down at the struggling Frenchman as the bridge opens and the Dormobile runs away.

As he rides past, a Gendarme (Graham Stark) spots the runaway camper van and takes chase.

A young Couple (Anne Kellett and Barrie Gosney) set up their camp. Looking across at Calais Port from a site in the vicinity of Fort Risban off Avenue Raymond Poincaré.

The driverless Dormobile continues into the centre of town. Hôtel de Ville du Calais, the Town Hall on Place du Soldat Inconnu, Calais 62100.

Howard provides this shot without the benefit of a gantry. (RL)

The Gendarme peddles furiously to keep up. In the centre of the capture stands Les Bourgeois de Calais by Auguste Rodin.

More modern sculptures have been added in this shot from Howard. (RL)

Mistaking him for the driver, the Gendarme takes the details of a Gardener (Thomas Gallagher) as the family arrive on the scene. Place du Soldat Inconnu in Calais.

A more tranquil scene from Howard. (RL)

With the Dormobile's problem wheel, Dad approaches a Man (Brian Murphy) standing outside a back street garage and starts to gesticulate. This small garage stood on Rue Caillette.

Dad watches the bemused Man get into his car as the Garage Mechanic (Andreas Malandrinos) appears. Rue Caillette, to the south of the centre of Calais.

The Man drives away in his British registered Wolseley. Looking south on Rue Caillette with Rue Auber in the distance.

The young Lovers drive through another part of town. Facing south at the junction of Rue Aristide Briand with Rue du 11 Novembre in Calais.

The MG is brought to a stand outside their hotel. The former Hotel du Littoral on Rue Aristide Briand.

Although no longer an hotel, the building still stands opposite Parc Saint Pierre.

Lover Girl (Catherine Feller) heads for the door as Lover Boy (Rodney Bewes) unloads the cases. Looking towards the junction of Rue Aristide Briand with Rue du 11 Novembre.

With the troublesome tyre fixed but now hopelessly lost, Dad negotiates streets on the outskirts of town.

Roadworks bar the way and the camper is turned around.

Dad tries a different direction.

Another false turn sees Dad reversing from a churchyard before he carries on his search, eventually finding a sign for a camp site during the pitch black of night.

The following morning, the residents of Calais are greeted with an unusual sight. Boulevard Jacquard with the base of the War Memorial to the top left.

A closer view of the War Memorial from Howard. (RL)

Grandad (Wilfrid Brambell) emerges from his tent.

It looks as though those conical trees could be the same ones Howard, but larger. (RL)

The Gendarme approaches and Grandad makes his escape. The background buildings stand at the corner of Boulevard Jacquard and Rue Paul Bert.

It would appear from Howard's shot that Grandad's parking spot is still available. (RL)

Grandad looks for a place to hide. Rodin’s Six Burghers in Place du Soldat Inconnu stands in front of properties on Rue Jean Jaurès.

The scene now thanks to Howard. (RL)

The Gendarme searches for the disrespectful person who dared to camp in front of the Town Hall. Looking across Parc Saint Pierre toward Rue Paul Bert.

Howard witnessed more colourful and mature gardens. (RL)

Grandad keeps very still. In front of Hôtel de Ville and Les Bourgeois de Calais.

Howard couldn't keep away from Rodin’s Six Burghers. (RL)

Later that morning, a Young Woman (Bettine Le Beau) beckons for Grandad to follow her. Boulevard Jacquard runs into the distance from the junction of Rue Jean Jaurès and Rue Aristide Briand.

No one appears to beckon Howard but perhaps they were out of shot. (RL)

Grandad dutifully follows. Boulevard Jacquard and the War Memorial form the backdrop.

The Young Woman continues to lead the way through the park. Fontaine des Trois Grâces (Fountain of Three Graces) in Parc Saint Pierre.

A shot from Howard taken a little further back. (RL)

To his dismay, Grandad discovers that the Young Woman is the attendant at a War Museum. The entrance to the former wartime bunker in Parc St Pierre that now houses the Calais War Museum.

Confirmation that Howard was in the correct place to record how much weight that tree has put on. (RL)

A German visitor drives his Mercedes-Benz 220 into the camp site. Avenue Raymond Poincaré in Calais.

Time for lunch. The intersection of Boulevard de la Résistance, Pont Henri Hénon and Rue de la Mer with Residence Maison Du Port spanning Boulevard des Alliés.

A fine comparison shot from Howard Baker with a much clearer view of the background. (RL)

The Hitchhikers sit at a table as the Maitre d'Hotel (Warren Mitchell) moves towards them. Facing the corner of Boulevard de la Résistance and Rue de la Mer.

When Grandad's tent collapses and he goes to the back street garage for help. Looking north on Rue Caillette,

The puzzled Hitchhikers have no idea what they have ordered!

No Al Fresco Dining was available when Howard was there. (RL)

A Deliveryman (Henry Woolf) runs across the street with two cases of empty wine bottles. In the right background stands Résidence Maison Du Port at the corner of Pont Henri Hénon and Boulevard des Alliés.

Howard took this shot for us to fill in time and found that little has changed in all the years but a roundabout now appears to be necessary. (RL)

After lunch, the two Hitchhikers go shopping.

Grandad carries his tent to the beach. Facing westward on Digue Gaston Berthe.

The camera follows as the old man walks onto the sand. The ramp leads down from Digue Gaston Berthe.

Dad drives Mum and Grandma through the Maritime Quarter of town. Looking toward Rue Margolle from Rue Jean Pierre Avron with Le Monument des Sauveteurs on the left.

Howard found another monument to photograph. (RL)

The shot pans to look along Rue Jean Pierre Avron in the Quartier du Courgain Maritime of Calais.

Does this shot from Howard reflect the loss of the outdoor culture as a result of weather changes? (RL)

The family get out of the Dormobile. Facing southward on Rue Jean Pierre Avron.

This shot from Howard shows the Rue to be one way now. (RL)

Mum and Dad go into a bar while Grandma goes off to find a café. Rue Jean Pierre Avron from the corner of Rue Margolle.

A while later, the couple emerge for the bar a little worse for wear. Rue Jean Pierre Avron in Calais.

No one was worse for wear whilst Howard was there. (RL)

The family climb back into the camper van and Dad drives away. The corner of Rue Margolle and Rue Jean Pierre Avron.

All the cranes have gone to help Howard establish the exact angle. (RL)

The Gendarme spots the Dormobile as it leaves the road and heads across the grass. Rue Jean Pierre Avron.

Bicycles and mopeds are no longer in favour it would seem according to this shot from Howard. (RL)

Unfortunately, the camper van negotiates the gardens better than a bicycle. More of Rue Jean Pierre Avron.

The restaurant frontages have had a makeover according to Howard. (RL)

Mum and Dad arrive at the beach to find Grandad missing. Digue Gaston Berthe once more.

Dad adds a Calais sticker to the back window of the Dormobile. Place d'Armes in Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Grandad avails himself of the local amenities. Rue Antoine Bénard next to the Grand Théâtre de Calais. The pissoir has been replaced by a more modern facility.

The German (Ron Moody) spots Grandad and, having met him earlier at the war museum, goes across to say hello. Rue Antoine Bénard with Rue Darne leading to Boulevard Pasteur in the right distance.

Mum and dad have trouble understanding the menu as a Gourmet (Fred Emney) with an injured foot prepares to order. In the background is the junction formed by Boulevard de la Résistance, Pont Henri Hénon, Rue de la Mer and Boulevard des Alliés.

Grandad is taken for a drink by the German. The corner of Rue Jean Pierre Avron and Rue Margolle.

And finally from Howard on this round. (RL)

When the two war veterans leave the bar they notice a commotion across the street. This may be in front of now demolished buildings on Boulevard des Alliés, opposite Bassin du Paradis.

The pair cross the road and look into the harbour. This is Quai d'Angoulême with Quai Auguste Delpierre as the background.

A first class comparison shot from Howard.......were those bollards there at the time of the screen capture? (RL)

Grandad's tent floats into view. Bassin du Paradis, the oldest dock in Calais.

Howard finds that there are now more mooring points. (RL)

The two Hitch-hikers set out on the road. Steve Randall found the location to be Moulin Michel on Avenue Charles de Gaulle in Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais.

They don't initially have much luck in getting a lift. Facing north on Avenue Charles de Gaulle in Coquelles, identified by Steve Randall.

The German drives Grandad back to town. Facing south-west on Quai du Commerce, running alongside the Canal de Calais.

Grandad gets out of the car to say farewell to his new friend. The road to the left leads to Pont de Vic, a bascule bridge over the canal.

Directing traffic, the Gendarme signals the German to move his Mercedes. The junction of Quai du Commerce and Rue de Vic.

Still laden with onions, the Frenchman approaches on his bicycle. Looking west on Rue de Vic.

After crashing into Dad's camper van, the Frenchman throws his cycle into the canal. Quai du Commerce in Calais, Nord-Pas de Calais.

This area has been redeveloped and none of the buildings seen here survive.