French Dressing

Henry Liggott (Roy Kinnear) calls to Gormleigh-on-Sea's deckchair attendant Jim Stephens as he throws stones into the sea. Looking up at the Promenade in Herne Bay, Kent.

The steps have gone and the beach has been raised up which is why the buildings on Central Parade can be seen. SD

Jim Stephens (James Booth) climbs the steps from the beach to hear Henry tell him that he's missed a customer. Facing eastward on the Promenade.

The steps were on Central Parade, opposite Sea View Square. SD

Climbing onto his bicycle, Jim heads off to collect the deckchair charge from a person at the other end of the deserted promenade. In the centre of the Promenade can be seen the base of the Clock Tower dating from 1837.

Showing a bit more of the clock tower. SD

Henry catches up as Jim rides past the elderly lady who has her own motorised chair. Herne Bay also features in 'The Medusa Touch' and 'Blue jeans - Du beurre aux Allemands'.

Viewed from beside the clock tower. SD

Theme music begins to play while Jim speeds away to the end of the run-down resort's pier after Henry spots another deckchair occupant through a telescope. Herne Bay Pier entrance on Central Parade, Herne Bay.

The pier entrance now. SD

The titles roll as Jim rides into the distance. Construction was completed in 1899 when the pier became the second longest in England.

The much altered pier. SD

The 3,787 feet long structure once featured a tramway and later, a narrow gauge railway.

Looking towards the end of the pier from the remaining section shows just how much of the pier was lost. SD

The pier was destroyed during a storm in 1978 and the centre sections were dismantled in 1980.

Central Parade seen from the surviving section of pier. SD

Jim reaches the end of the pier to discover that the deckchair occupant has a season ticket. The deteriorating pier head still stands over a kilometer from the shore.

The pier head now, with the landing stage on the right. SD

Returning from his fruitless journey, Jim cycles through the bandstand where an organist plays to an audience of two. Herne Bay's Central Bandstand.

The doorway Jim cycles through is now the entrance to the toilets. SD

As he rides past, Jim remarks "It's all go here, innit" to the organist. Inside Central Bandstand on Central Parade.

The bandstand still has regular performances, although not by Nannette Bettina. SD

The resident Photographer captures Jim as he sits atop a stuffed, moth eaten camel. Looking along the beach at Herne Bay in Kent.

Near Hampton Pier, with the beach huts along Spa Esplanade. SD

As a band plays sedately in the background, Judy (Alita Naughton) types her latest piece for The Gazette, the resort's newspaper. The Bandstand stood on the roof of King's Hall at East Cliff, Herne Bay and was demolished in 1969.

Not as good without Alita and the bandstand. SD

That evening, Jim lowers the town's flag as Henry cycles in circles. The flagpole stands between Tower Gardens and the Central Bandstand on the Promenade.

Viewed from a lot nearer the ground. SD

The Entertainments Officer dismounts and tells his subordinate that, by tradition, the flag should have been taken down fifteen minutes ago. Looking across Tower Gardens and the Promenade towards the Grand Pier Pavilion in the background.

Now, without the flagpole. SD

The Mayor (Bryan Pringle) approaches, noting the pair's tardiness. The background building is, as indicated on the sign, the Central Bandstand.

The Central Bandstand now also has a café and a restaurant. SD

Looking up and down the empty promenade, the Mayor comments that the seafront is very quiet. Facing westward along the Promenade with Central Parade to the left.

The wall to the left is a sea defence with flood gates. SD

The morning after the poorly patronised Monster Gala Carnival, Jim makes his way to see Judy. Looking down onto the Central Bandstand in Herne Bay.

Looking across to the Central Bandstand. SD

After gathering flowers from the bandstand garden, Jim takes his bike inside. Central Bandstand on Central Parade.

With the clock tower in the distance. SD

Reaching the roof, Jim remounts his Moulton Standard. The roof of the Central Bandstand with the Clock Tower to the left and Central Parade on the right.

The staircase to the roof is very narrow, so possibly why Jim needed a small bike. SD

With flowers in hand, Jim looks for the young reporter. Looking towards the pier from the Central Bandstand roof.

The Central Bandstand roof was originally a sun terrace but is now closed. SD

The camera follows Jim around the roof until he enters the kiosk where Judy serves coffee.

I had my coffee in Makcari's down below. SD

Judy, Jim and Henry enter the Council House to lay their plans for a Film Festival in front of the Mayor. King's Hall off Beacon Hill in Herne Bay.

King's Hall was also seen in the 1984 TV series 'Cockles'. SD

After crossing the Channel to find the star for Gormleigh's Film Festival, Henry and Jim ask for directions to Le Touquet. Likely to be the port at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Jim spots a clue to the whereabouts of film star Françoise Fayol. Looking south-east on Avenue Saint-Jean, Le Touquet, Nord-Pas-de-Calais. (SR)

Henry is puzzled by Jim's stance until he moves to reveal an inflatable dummy of Françoise Fayol.

The two follow the trail of dummies advertising the star's latest film. The junction of Rue Saint-Jean with Rue de Metz in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage.

Looking north-east on Rue de Metz in Le Touquet.

In the right background stands Le Normandy cinéma on Rue Saint-Jean. The cinema was renamed Select and is currently a casino and nightclub.

The corner of Rue de Londres and Rue Saint-Jean.

Jim and Henry end up near the beach. Boulevard de la Plage in Le Touquet. Although a lot of rebuilding has taken place, the properties to the extreme left still stand between Rue de la Paix and Rue Jean Monnet.

A car speeds towards a pile of dummies that Jim and Henry are sitting in. Facing north on Boulevard de la Plage.

Diving out of the way as the car hits the pile, Jim shouts at the driver. Boulevard de la Plage with properties on Boulevard du Dr Jules Pouget in the background.

After another run at the dummies, the car comes to a halt on the beach where Jim and Henry discover actress Françoise Fayol (Marisa Mell) at the wheel. Boulevard de la Plage, Le Touquet, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Fed up of being typecast as a sex symbol, Françoise takes the two Englishmen to where there are more dummies stored and sets fire to them.

The steamer arrives back at Gormleigh after Jim and Henry persuade the actress to return with them. Approaching Herne Bay's pier is PS Medway Queen, a paddle driven steamship dating from 1924 and now preserved.

The left side of the landing stage. SD

Jim carries Françoise's luggage from the steamer as the Mayor and his entourage wait at the wrong staircase. Herne Bay Pier in Kent.

The isolated pier head and landing stage. SD

Carrying Miss Fayol on his motorised chair, the Mayor is followed by his Councillor's along the pier, leaving Jim and Judy with the luggage.

The derelict pier head now. SD

The Mayor and his Council sit on a small stand with their guest of honour. Central Parade along Herne Bay's seafront.

The slipway on Central Parade opposite William Street. SD

Françoise and the Council watch as a pageant progresses along the promenade. The background terrace stands opposite Tower Gardens on Central Parade.

Now, without 'King Harold'. SD

The procession continues with more French themed floats passing the stand. Central Parade, Herne Bay in Kent.

Now, without the guillotine. SD

As a tableau depicting the Foreign Legion passes, the stand is disturbed by Henry Liggott and slides into the sea, soaking the occupants.

The slipway on Central Parade, now surrounded by sea defences. SD

The weather turns to rain as a band and dignitaries wait for the Mayor and Françoise Fayol to arrive at the Grand Hotel. Once the Royal Pier Hotel, this is St. Anne's Convalescent Home opposite the Pier entrance.

Only light rain today. The same place now, sadly. SD

The Mayor looks around before getting out of the ancient limousine. Outside St. Anne's Home on St. George's Terrace. The building was demolished in 1968 to be replaced by a tower block named St. Anne's Court.

Where the entrance to St. Anne's Home once stood. SD

The Mayor pleads with Jim to calm Ms. Fayol at the hotel after a less than pleasant experience in the rain. Central Parade with the Grand Pier Pavilion to the left.

Viewed from opposite the Central Parade amusement arcades. SD

Now happy again, Françoise leads the Mayor and Council onto the beach. The steps lead down from the Promenade beneath the Clock Tower standing on the extreme left.

The steps have gone and the beach is now much higher. SD

The group pose in the sea for photographs to be taken. With Herne Bay Pier in the background, this appears to be near Hampton Pier at the west end of the town.

This part of the beach has no groynes to get in the way of posing. SD

Photographers capture the moment. To the top right stands the first building of Western Esplanade and this is the beach below Central Parade opposite Lane End.

No beach huts here now. SD

Whilst out rowing, Jim notices that Judy is less than happy. Under the Pier at Herne Bay.

Where the majority of the pier originally stretched across the sea. SD

News of the Film Festival spreads and visitors flock to Gormleigh-on-Sea. Looking from the beach towards Central Parade in Herne Bay.

With the pier to the left and St. Anne's Court to the right. SD

Television personality Robert Robinson (Himself) broadcasts from the promenade. Central Parade with the Grand Pier Pavilion to the right of centre.

Viewed from opposite the Central Parade amusement arcades. SD

A film starring Françoise Fayol is shown at the Festival.

Françoise's character climbs a stairway before meeting a Man coming in the other direction. The footbridge crossing the railway at Gare de Boulogne-Tintelleries that links the two parts of Rue Basse des Tintelleries. The bridge was removed in 1982.

The two characters run towards an archway in the French New wave production. Facing the Jardin des Tintelleries from Rue Basse des Tintelleries in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Nord-Pas-de-Calais with buildings on Rue Dutertre in the distance.

Struggling with the Man, Françoise is led into a nearby building. Facing Rue Basse des Tintelleries in Boulogne-sur-Mer.

As the film continues it becomes apparent to the audience that Ms. Fayol's acting is a little more risque than that seen in British productions. The entrance arch to the Jardin des Tintelleries.

In Jim's mind, he takes a disguised Françoise to the railway station. Herne Bay station on The Circus in Herne Bay.

No one in disguise today, but then how can I be sure? SD

Dressed as a nun, the French star is recognised by photographers. Herne Bay station on the Chatham Main Line between Faversham and Margate.

The island platform viewed from platform 2. SD

The actress poses while cameras click. Herne Bay station's island platform with the Grand Hotel, now St. Mary's Court, visible to the top left.

I'm taking the photos today! St Mary's Court is still there, just no longer visible. SD

Having grabbed a bouquet of flowers from the star's hotel suite, Henry dashes to the station. Oxenden Park Drive, Herne Bay with buildings on Albany Drive to the left.

In reality he's running away from the station. SD

Henry struggles onward, passing cars as he runs. Oxenden Park Drive.

The present owner of the house was surprised and interested to learn it was in a film. SD

The Council Official keeps up his desperate pace. Oxenden Park Drive in Herne Bay.

I would only run that fast if I saw an ice cream van. SD

More vehicles are overtaken. Oxenden Park Drive, Herne Bay, Kent.

I'm so glad the van on the right of the picture was parked up and not speeding towards me. SD

As Henry hurries down the steps to the station subway, the flowers that he's holding begin to fall from his arms. The steps descend from Herne Bay station's island platform to the subway leading to the current platform 2.

The subway steps now. SD

Clutching the remaining two stems, Henry climbs the stairs to the platform to find that the gates are locked. These steps lead from the subway running between The Circus and Eddington Lane.

There most certainly is no access! Not only is the gate from the subway closed but the steps also have Buddleias growing up them. SD

Too late! Henry watches as the train leaves the platform. The island platform at Herne Bay station at the end of Station Road. This side of the island is no longer in use and the track has been lifted.

Now with railings alongside the disused track bed. SD

In pouring rain, Henry walks from the beach with a soaking wet Judy and Jim after the young journalist takes Françoise's place for a naked bathe. Looking along Hampton Pier from the corner of Hampton Pier Avenue and Western Esplanade in Herne Bay, Kent.

No rain today, in fact this was the hottest September day since 1911. SD