Wildcats of St. Trinian’s, The

A Schoolgirl reports to the Action Committee that the teachers at St. Trinians are all asleep except Miss Coke who is down at the boozer.

Word is passed to Flash Harry (Joe Melia) who drops everything to attend the inaugural meeting of Union of British Schoolgirls.

At the offices of Baron & Page, Agatha removes paperwork from a filing cabinet to help the Girls at St. Trinians to infiltrate other schools. Facing south-west on Bedford Square in London WC1 with Bayley Street on the extreme right. Bedford Square can also be seen in 'Their Finest', 'Don’t Bother to Knock', 'Follow Me!', 'Half Moon Street', 'Accident' and 'Full Circle'.

The view today. (SR)

Travelling to High Down School under a pseudonym, new pupil Angela Hall (Frances Ruffelle) is put on the train for Eastbourne at Victoria station by her aunt Mrs. Mowbray (Ambrosine Phillpotts). The Windsor bay platform at Slough railway station in Slough, Berkshire. The station features in 'Watch It, Sailor!', 'Take a Girl Like You', 'Diamonds on Wheels' and 'The Last Journey'.

Despite the risk, Miss Adams the sports mistress takes some of the Girls for a swimming session. Norris Castle off Millfield Avenue in East Cowes, Isle of Wight.

Poppy Adams approaches the locked gates of the school. Norris Castle Lodge on New Barn Road, East Cowes.

Opening the gates, the Gatekeeper stands back as Poppy drives through before sounding the horn in thanks. The gates to Norris Castle on New Barn Road.

John Harwood took this shot of the gates. (SJ)

Soon after arriving at the beach, one of the Girls challenges Poppy Adams (Luan Peters) to race Mavis (Debbie Linden) to a boat moored off shore.

At High Down, Britain's most exclusive girls school, Mrs. Mowbray and headmistress Miss Dormancott learn that Angela, the Princess Roxanne, has been replaced by Matilda Harcourt, the Union of British Schoolgirls shop steward. Steve Randall's research led him to St. Giles House in Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset and a view taken before its partial demolition in 1973. The property can also be seen in 'Carry On England'.

While the Teachers search the school for the missing Princess, Matilda returns to St. Trinians and a strike is called. Looking towards New Barn Lodge through the gates of Norris Castle near East Cowes, Isle of Wight.

As the Schoolgirls' strike spreads to High Down, Miss Dormancott attempts to contact the Minister. Facing the Houses of Parliament on the east side of Parliament Square in SW1 with Bridge Street to the left.

The Elizabeth Tower is still clad. SJ

Told that the Minister is in Monte Carlo, Dolly Dormancott speaks with the Departmental Chief Mr. Culpepper Brown. Looking across Parliament Square towards South Block on Great George Street SW1.

The north side of the square. SJ

Culpepper Brown sends Peregrine Butters (Rodney Bewes) and Miss Brenner (Deborah Norton) to St. Trinians to investigate the kidnapping of the Princess.

Caught by the Schoolgirls, Butters and Miss Brenner return to the station after obtaining replacement clothes for those destroyed in an explosion. Windsor & Eton Central station, views which can be seen in many other films including ‘Carry On Loving’, ‘The Lovers’, ‘Left, Right and Centre’, ‘Lease of Life’, ‘The House Across the Lake’, ‘A Run for Your Money’, ‘Law and Disorder’ and ‘Upstairs and Downstairs’.

The two embarrassed Officials wait for the London train. Windsor & Eton Central station in Windsor, Berkshire.

Called by St. Trinians headmistress Olga Vandemeer, Flash Harry (Joe Melia) heads for the school. Oakley Court on Windsor Road, Oakley Green in Berkshire.

When Culpepper Brown receives the St. Trinians strikers demands, the Sir Charles Hackforth is advised. The view across the River Thames from Albert Embankment in SE1 with the Houses of Parliament on the far bank.

An unaltered skyline. SJ

Contacted by Sir Charles, Evan Williams, secretary of the Left Action Democratic Students Union, arrives at St. Trinians. Castle Norris Lodge and the gateway to New Barn Road, East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

Breaking their picket duty, some of the Girls accompany Evan and his Members to the beach where the LADS secretary invites their senior shop steward to a dance. Looking landward from Sandown Bay towards the Ocean Hotel beyond the Esplanade in Sandown.

Jim Hamilton was glad the tide was out.

While private investigator Katy Higgs rescues the Princess, Flash Harry leaves for London on the 9.50 train. Slough station on Brunel Way, Slough.

Flash Harry's train arrives in the Capital. London's Victoria station in SW1.

The best I could manage from ground level but I tried to integrate the depature and arrivals board on the left, though it appears revamped. SJ

Outside the station, Flash jumps into a cab, asking to be taken to 149 Piccadilly. The forecourt of Windsor & Eton Central station in Berkshire.

Flash Harry's taxi nears it's destination. The Grand Entrance Screen at Hyde Park Corner on Knightsbridge in SW1. Various views of the screen appear in a number of films including 'The Magic Box', 'Escape!', 'Joanna', 'The Sandwich Man', 'The Optimists of Nine Elms', 'The Fourth Protocol' and 'The Lady with a Lamp'.

Martin Stiles took this comparison from the western balcony of the Wellington Arch adding that, in the 80s the arch was still being used by the Metropolitan Police and the balconies didn’t have the door access that they now do, so filming may have taken place from the north balcony or possibly from the roof under the quadriga.

The camera follows the black cab until it comes to a stand outside Apsley House on Piccadilly W1.

A partly obscured Apsley House captured by Martin Stiles.

Flash looks up at the building . . . . then checks the address that he has been given. Apsley House at 149 Piccadilly.

Still no1 in London. SJ

After Flash Harry returns from London with news, bells ring out the alarm as St. Trinians' Junior Pupils are mobilised. St. Mildred's church on Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes on the Isle of Wight recognised by James Holmes.

John H. enjoying his unexpected to the Isle of Wight. This church was a favourite of Queen Victoria... I think this appears off-angle so it could be replaced by an improvement. (SJ)

The younger Schoolgirls reach the shore as the dance thrown by the Left Action Democratic Students Union for the 6th Formers continues. This is the beach below Culver Parade in Sandown, Isle of Wight.

A joint effort by Greg Scott and Jim Hamilton to identify the spot found that only two concrete groynes on the beach are a possible match . . . this is the result.

With a plot by the Ministry uncovered by Flash Harry, the angry young Pupils head for boats to take them to a moored paddle steamer. The beach at Sandown with Culver Cliff on Whitecliff Ledge across Sandown Bay in the left distance.

John H. found that the cliff was unchanged. (SJ)

A fight breaks out between the Schoolgirls and the LADS Members after Evan attempts to get the older Girls to sign a declaration. The paddle steamer PS Ryde which was converted into a 'boatel' and renamed Ryde Queen. In 1977, the vessel caught fire but was repaired to became a nightclub known as the Ryde Queen. Richard Marum visited the ship when it was a night club in the 1970's and then heard more recently that it was being proposed to raise funds to rebuild her. He re-visited in 2018 and took some photographs that can be viewed via the link in the Header Section, but the prospect, as he says, appeared to be a 'tall order', indeed he now understands she is to be broken up. A sad story indeed. (RL)

Barbara Casey provides this rather depressing image showing that PS Ryde has almost rotted away.

One of the Girls picks up a cake as the slapstick continues. Greg Scott firmly believes this is looking towards the site of the former West Medina Cement Works across the River Medina and what would have been the long lost rail served quay and associated buildings. The site is now occupied by Vestas wind turbine factory,