Secrets of a Windmill Girl

Leaving a party, Pat Lord (Pauline Collins) and her drunken Friend stagger towards his car.

Lighting cigarettes before they set off, the MGB speeds away.

Pat laughs uncontrollably as the car is driven round and round a pair of bollards.

A collision is narrowly avoided.

The joy ride continues along residential streets. A residential street identified by Ron Glenister as 1-16 Leinster Gardens looking towards Cleveland Gardens, W2

Looking north. SJ

Still accelerating, the MGB flies past a police 'No Through Road' sign. Continuity sees them passing the corner of Cleveland Gardens and Leinster Gardens says Ron. Once the 'Martinez Hotel'. (RL)

This is the corner where old maps place the ex-Martinez Hotel. It is now the residential Cleveland Court. SJ

After Inspector Thomas breaks news of Pat's death to her friend Linda Grey, he takes a taxi to pay a visit to her at home.

Inspector Thomas (Derek Bond) gets out of the cab.

Hoping to learn more about the deceased, the Inspector makes his way into the building.

Inside her flat, Linda begin to tell Inspector Thomas about her best friend.

Linda explains that the pair used to play truant from school. Ravenscourt Avenue, W6 now completely re-developed as part of the Ravenscourt Park Prep. School that this adjoined, the wall and bollard on the opposite side can still be seen in the Google Earth View of 2008. And confirmed by Ron. (RL)

A different look now. SJ

Then came the day that Pat and Linda had been waiting for, they left school. Ron Glenister say he "got lucky" and found the location to be Ravenscourt Park Prep. School, Ravencourt Avenue, London W6. Also seen in 'Supersonic Saucer', 'A Hitch in Time', 'Victim' and 'Spare the Rod'. (RL)

New gates but the building is as was. SJ

In the park, the two throw their schoolbooks into a litter bin. The park, says Ron Glenister, is Ravenscourt Park and the large building in the background is the one time Ravenscourt Hospital, now closed but the building is Grade ll* listed. (RL)

Seasonally this is a bit too late for a particularly meaningful comparison but the buildings are behind the trees on Ravenscourt Park. SJ

The friends are fired from their jobs as shoe shop assistants when Pat rejects manager Len Mason's advances. 193 Edgware Road at the corner of Star Street in London W2 identified by Richard Lovejoy.

The shoe shop is now a Lebanese restaurant. SJ

Bright and confident, Pat and Linda (April Wilding) walk towards a better future. Looking northward on Rupert Street W1 with Brewer Street in the distance.

The window over Walker's Court remains in place. (PW)

The corner of Archer Street and Rupert Street with the Globe Theatre filling the background.

Scaffolding clings to what is now the Gielgud Theatre.

With a few misgivings, the pair steadily and resolutely moved towards their fate. Archer Street with the White Horse public house as the background.

Many elements of the pub's woodwork survives. (PW)

Facing south-west on Archer Street with Great Windmill Street in the distance.

Looking towards a changed Great Windmill Street. (PW)

The two reach the stage door of the Windmill Theatre. The Windmill Theatre's stage door on Archer Street in Soho.

Clues remain to confirm the location. (PW)

Pat and Linda enter the theatre for an audition. Outside the Windmill Theatre on Archer Street.

The same entrance. (PW)

Linda continues to tell the Inspector about her time with Pat at the Windmill, explaining that that although many of the Girls had digs in London, Eileen lived with her family in Rochester, Kent. In fact, says Ron Glenister, she lives at 18 Murray Road, Findsbury, near Rochester, Kent. (RL)

Saying goodbye to her Mum, Eileen makes her way to the station. Ron finds her here in Murray Road facing Church Gardens and Frindsbury Park. Findsbury, near Rochester, Kent. (RL)

At a corner, what appears to be the spire of Rochester Cathedral comes into view. No, not Rochester Cathedral, but All Saints Church, Church Gardens, Findsbury, near Rochester, Kent says Ron Glenister,so we are looking at the corner of Murray Road and Church Gardens. Adding that the Parish Hall on the corner, has been refurbished since 1966. (RL)

Linda goes on to say that Eileen could have been a secretary but when she put of the greasepaint and the costume she was transformed into a real glamour girl. Ron Glenister found the station to be that of Strood, Kent, located on the "down" side. As Ron says "This lovely historic building, sadly demolished and replaced with the ultimate of mediocrity." (RL)

Eileen enters the station, picking up a newspaper for the journey. Strood, Kent as identified by Ron. (RL)

Eileen reaches the London platform via the station's subway. Strood, Kent as identified by Ron. (RL)

The train to town arrives. Strood, Kent looking south west as identified by Ron. (RL)

Linda and Pat leave the lodgings that they share.

After thinking about the previous days performance on the way, Eileen arrives in London. Charing Cross station on Strand in London WC2.

A smiling Ticket Collector checks Eileen's ticket. Charing Cross station, terminus for services from Kent.

A general shot taken by the ticket barriers. SJ

Eileen leaves the station to find a taxi. Charing Cross station in WC2.

Added entrance to the underground on the left. SJ

The forecourt of Charing Cross railway station, looking towards Villiers Street in the left background.

More vans than taxis. SJ

Facing eastward outside Charing Cross station with properties on Strand to the top left.

Panning left from above. SJ

Pat hails a cab. Rather like the 'Windmill' never closing, Ron Glenister never gives up, for here he finds the girls to be in Robert Adam Street, London W1 looking towards Baker Street. Regrettably, now redeveloped. (RL)

The redeveloped north side of the street. SJ

"Punctuality was a must, but no matter how early you started you always had to run that last few yards." Robert Adam Street, London W1 looking towards Baker Street as found by Ron. (RL)

Some of the south side of the terrace to the left still survives. SJ

Eileen approaches the theatre where Ben the stage door keeper always had a cheerful word. Archer Street W1 with the corner of Great Windmill Street to the extreme right.

Alterations are apparent. (PW)

Deidre (Deidre O'Dea) and Serena quicken their pace as they near the Windmill. Looking along Great Windmill Street from the corner of Archer Street in W1 with the Red Lion public house to the right and the Lex garage in the left distance.

For a change, today there are fewer parked vehicles. (PW)

"We were part of the London scene, the locals used to call it the Windmill Stakes." Archer Street with Rupert Street in the distance.

Flaking black paint never looks good. (PW)

Linda and Pat's taxi comes to a halt to drop them off near the theatre. Ron Glenister continues to follow the girls around London and now finds them in Blandford Street, W1 and here we are looking west from Chiltern Street. (RL)

This row is intact but new building on the corner of Baker Street. SJ

"Every day, dozens of requests poured in for photographs of the girls."

"We were always involved in publicity stunts and sales gimmicks."

"We launched hundreds of new products. Everyone knew the Windmill Girls."

"We were as famous as the Ziegfeld Girls and were great fund-raisers for charity."

The Windmill Girls pose with a Football Team. Whether of not it was a genuine Watford FC team seen here Ron Glenister has identified Watford FC, Vicarage Road as the ground and has gone so far as to identify that white building, back right, as 109 Vicarage Road. (RL)

"This must surely be the way to bring back the missing millions to the terraces." As per the previous capture this is the ground of Watford FC, Vicarage Road, identified by Ron. (RL)

"The face of London was beginning to change." Old Compton Street W1 with the Compton Cinema at number 60

Just as busy. (PW)

"Strip clubs and nude shows were springing up everywhere." Ron also managed to find 9 Old Compton Street, London W1 looking towards Charing Cross Road from the corner with Moor Street. (RL)

There's a number 9 above the door to aid with this comparison. (PW)

It was affecting business at the Windmill. Whilst Ron is not prepared to admit to getting to know the strip clubs he has now found himself, and us, on Greek Street opposite the Cinerama Cinema, now the Prince Edward Theatre, looking towards Soho Square. (RL)

On a drier and brighter day. (PW)

"The term "club" covered a multitude of sins. They were not banned by the Lord Chamberlain's office. Anyone, apparently, could open a cellar, play some music and have girls dance in the nude." Facing north-east on Old Compton Street with the junction of Dean Street ahead.

In progress, the changing face of Soho. (PW)

As the Girls get ready for their next performance, a rumour about the Windmill closing spreads around the dressing room. Great Windmill Street in Soho.

In daylight, around 57 years later. (PW)

After the show closed, Linda went to auditions whereas Pat, still waiting for a lead in the West End promised by her Producer friend, went into a revue. Ron Glenister doesn't seem to be able to keep away from these 'Windmill Girl's', he has followed Pat to 54 Dean Street. (RL)

Neil Kenny waited for a gap in the tourists to take this comparison.

Finally getting the message, Pat makes her way to an agency looking for work. Clearly keeping out of sight, Ron follows Pat to Shaftesbury Avenue as she leaves Gerrard Place and enters Nassau House. (RL)

Also following, Neil Kenny keeps the inspection cover in view.

With Matthew only interested in strippers, Pat lands a job at the Americana. Looking along Greek Street towards Soho Square in W1 with the Three Greyhounds public house at the corner of Old Compton Street to the left of centre.

Wizards now compete with the Three Greyhounds. (PW)

Before a performance, Pat gets into a fight with one of the other Strippers. The club occupies 28 Greek Street.

Any surviving detail is now hidden by canopies. (PW)

Sacked from another club for shouting at the audience, Pat moves on. Dean Street in Soho, looking towards the junction with Old Compton Street.

Facing the same corner. (PW)

When Pat is fired from the Oriental, she sinks to earning money by stripping in the back rooms of pubs. The doorway to number 48 Dean Street W1.

The entrance now. (PW)