Goodnight Mister Tom

The film opens during September 1939, in the village of Little Weirwold played by Turville, Buckinghamshire.

Worth the climb up towards to Cobstone Windmill. SJ

The villagers are seen making their way to church where they hear a radio broadcast by the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, declaring that a state of war now exists.

Couldn't get the whole of the tree-trunk bench in thanks to a car in the way. This is the house used in 'The Vicar of Dibley' as TV fans will recognise. SJ

Widower Tom Oakley (John Thaw) leaves his cottage. School Lane, Turville in Buckinghamshire.

Called Sleepy Cottage. SJ

The embittered old man makes his way across the church yard. St Mary the Virgin church, Turville.

Similar view seen in Dead of Night. SJ

Tom pauses to look down at the grave of his wife and son, who both died from scarlet fever whilst he was fighting in the Great War.

A prop gravestone but the others are real. SJ

Billetting Officer Mrs Ford (Avril Elgar) rushes onto the station to meet the train from London. Arley Station on the Severn Valley Railway near Kidderminster, Worcestershire.

Greenery now obscures the painted fences. (RL)

A motley group of evacuees are left waiting after the train departs. Arley Station, Worcestershire.

Rather more memorabilia adorns the station in reality. (RL)

Mrs Ford allocates the children to homes around the village. Holloway Lane in Turville.

Now. SJ

Mrs Ford departs after William Beech (Nick Robinson) is billeted with Tom Oakley.

Back at Sleepy Cottage. SJ

After being shown to his room, William looks through the window on a view quite different to the one back home.

I believe these gates were erected in 1956, after the wartime setting. SJ

Tom doesn't want an evacuee staying with him and pays a visit to the Vicar to complain. Turville Village Hall, Northend, Buckinghamshire.

A drive away from Turville. SJ

Whilst Tom visits the Vicar, William "Willie" Beech starts to explore the village.

Pity about the To Let sign. SJ

The Vicar (Geoffrey Beevers) tells Tom that there's nowhere else for William to go.

Now with bins instead of sandbags. SJ

Willie finds a statue that interests him.

Yes another prop in the graveyard. SJ

School teacher Annie Hartridge (Pauline Turner) and her husband David (Thomas Russell) approach and introduce themselves to Willie.

Now. SJ

Tom takes Willie along on a visit to the village Doctor.

Now. SJ

As he crosses the road, Tom turns to find that Willie is missing.

The Bull and Butcher pub is the white building to the right. SJ

Willie is seen talking with fellow evacuee Zacharias "Zach" Wrench (Thomas Orange) who is billeted with Dr Little.

And now a delivery van. SJ

The two boys from London get to know each other and become firm friends.

The church in the background. SJ

When Tom appears from Dr. Little's front door, Zach goes inside and Willie accompanies his guardian home.

Unchanged. SJ

Tom and Willie erect their Anderson Shelter.

Amazed villagers watch as the usually cantankerous Tom leads a line of children along the street.

Now. SJ

Tom takes the evacuees to go fishing. The Bull & Butcher public house stands to the right on Holloway Lane, Turville.

Just a little pan to the right from the last shot. SJ

Willie looks back to the cottage as he sets out to school.

Now. SJ

Tom watches as the youngster hesitates before his first day at the local school.

Now. SJ

Mrs Hartridge watches over pupils playing in the schoolyard. Mandy Osborne identifies this as Ibstone Infants School on Oxford Road in Ibstone, Buckinghamshire.

Antony Blair returned 26 years on.

The Postman (Michael Cronin) bring mail for Tom and birthday cards for William.

Now. SJ

Shortly after his tenth birthday is celebrated, Willie runs home from school to find that Tom has received a letter from his mother. Ibstone Infants School recognised by Mandy who used to live in Fingest, just to the south-east of Ibstone near Turville.

Captured by Antony Blair from ground level.

Mrs Beech writes saying that she wants her son to be back with her in London and the two make their way to the station.

The Bull and Butcher's garden is on the right. SJ

The London train pulls into Little Weirwold. Arley station on the Severn Valley Railway.

I was told that the repainting of the station to green was for a recent filming there. (RL)

Tom waves goodbye to Willie as the train leaves. Arley station can also be seen in 'Enola Holmes'.

Another impeccably kept station on the Severn Valley Railway. (RL)

The train from Little Weirwold arrives in London. Loughborough station on the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire.

A shot of the same location. (PW)

Mrs Beech (Annabelle Apsion) meets her son as he alights from the carriage. Loughborough Central station also appears in 'Cemetery Junction'.

As they get off the bus near home, Willie's highly religious but obviously unbalanced Mother starts to berate him. Russ Ketley advises that this was filmed in Woolwich Arsenal.

After no letters are received from Willie, Tom arrives in London looking for him, and ARP Warden Ralph Briggs (Geoffrey Hutchings) helps to locate the Beech's house. Woolwich Arsenal located by Russ. Check out the metal factory wall and telegraph bracket in this and image 32. One is a reverse of the other.

Russell found the area undergoing redevelopment as well as providing access into the new Crossrail tunnels.

A neighbour tells Tom that Mrs Beech has left and that her son has been evacuated but the two break into the flat where they find Willie, beaten and locked in a cupboard, holding his dead baby sister.

Medics are called and it's decided to take William to hospital. Russ Ketley also advises that some of the 'London's Burning' TV series was filmed here in Woolwich Arsenal.

An ambulance brings Willie to hospital. Woolwich Arsenal in the Royal Borough of Greenwich SE18, located by Russ Ketley.

Russell also provides this comparison shot.

Dr. Stelton proposes to take Willie to a children's home, believing that he needs treatment because of his traumatic experience. Woolwich Arsenal has been given over to housing and commercial redevelopment.

The same building now taken by Russell Ketley.

Whilst visiting the hospital, Tom learns of Dr Stelton's proposition. More of Woolwich Arsenal located by Russ.

Russell captured the proof.

Ralph watches as a saddened and angry Tom walks away. The Royal Arsenal at Woolwich also features in 1995's 'Richard III'.

Russell sent in this comparison shot taken at the corner of Cadogan Road and Hopton Road in Woolwich SE18.

Tom plans to kidnap Willie from the hospital and returns with him to Little Weirwold. One final image of Woolwich Arsenal in London SE18. Identified by Russ Ketley.

After Mrs Hartridge is informed that her husband is missing, presumed dead, Tom takes Willie to see her and her new born daughter.

Taken by Antony Blair from the path of Rose Cottage with the Bull & Butcher in the background.

A news poster reports air raids in the capital's East End and shortly afterwards, Zach is returned to London to be with his family.

From ground level. SJ

After the authorities decide to allow him to stay with Tom, Willie waits at the station, hoping to see his friend Zach return.

When news reaches the village that Zach has been killed in an air raid, Tom comforts Willie in the churchyard explaining that no one can take memories away.

Now. SJ

When it's passed on to him, Willie attempts learning to ride his friend's bicycle. Turville can also be seen in 'Calendar Girls'. 'A Yank in Ermine', 'Father Came Too!', 'The Pumpkin Easter', 'Dead of Night' and many other productions.

Now. SJ

As Willie perseveres, Mrs Hartridge runs into the street and tells him that her husband isn't dead after all, but has been taken prisoner.

Rose Cottage. SJ

One day, whilst working outside his workshop, Tom hears shouting approaching.

Now. SJ

Willie speeds down a hill into the village after mastering Zach's bicycle. School Lane.

Now by SJ. Turville probably first appeared, on film, in 'Went the Day Well'.

Tom meets Willie as he stops the bike and the happy boy calls him 'Dad' for the first time.

Old Beams and Church Cottage. SJ