Rescue Squad, The (Children’s Film Foundation)

A cat jumps through the open window of Mr. and Mrs. Manse's remote house before running across the moor towards the ruined tower near to where a group of Children are flying a model aircraft. The house was once a Beer House called the Traveller's Friend. It stood on the edge of Chobham Common, next to the Longcross car park on Staple Hill in Surrey, but was demolished in the 1980s. (SR)

When the aeroplane glides into a window at the top of the tower, Bill (Christopher Brett), Joe (Danny Grove), Anne (Shirley Joy), Tom (Malcolm Knight), Carol (Linda Leigh) and Charlie (Gareth Tandy) run to see if they can retrieve it.

Unable to find a way into the tower to get to Joe's plane, the Children go in search of a rope with a hook.

The gang reach Tom's Dad's yard. The yard lies between Vine Cottage and Minsmere on the northern side of Ham Common in Ham, Surrey.

Peter Bywaters' best endeavour for this scene is taken on the pavement looking across the common as a house now occupies what was once the yard. The tree to the left could possibly be the same one seen leaning to the left in the screen capture.

Loading the rope onto a barrow, the friends set off back to the tower. The building to the left along with the yard has since been developed with a new property occupying the site.

Looking at the location now, Peter Bywaters reckons that the gate to the yard is to the right of the house, where the garage is today.

As they walk along the high street, the hook falls from the barrow dragging the rope with it. The road outside circa 34 Priests Bridge in SW14. The facade of number 32 has since changed but the three upper windows remain and the undeveloped section of the street with trees and bushes has now been built over. The rounded top of the garage remains. RL

The hook gets caught on a car's bumper as a Market Trader (Michael Balfour) arranges his stall while the rope continues to unravel from the barrow. Around number 149 White Hart Lane in Barnes, Surrey, looking north. RL

Unaware of what is happening behind them. the Children pass a series of lamps protecting road works. White Hart Lane facing north towards the former Albert Arms public house, here reduced to an off licence, and the junction with Eleanor Grove to the right and Fitzgerald Avenue to the left. RL

A Delivery Boy loads the bicycle that he parked on top of the rope lying next to the kerb. Richard Lovejoy (RL) found 143 White Hart Lane in London SW13.

A Workman begins to gather the lamps as the driver of the car returns . . . which results in chaos that stills cannot convey. White Hart Lane with The Albert Arms and Eleanor Grove seen to the top left. RL

The barrow comes to an abrupt halt as the hook detaches itself from the car's bumper and gets caught in a gully grate.

A "bubble car" approaches a road junction. Facing north-east along Rosslyn Avenue SW13. RL

Rising from the roadway, the taut rope stops the Isetta. The corner of White Hart Lane and Rosslyn Avenue in Barnes where the background house has since been converted into a house. RL

Carol helps the Driver to remove the rope. Facing north-east along Rosslyn Avenue SW13 from the junction with White Hart Lane. RL

Joe and Charlie free the hook from the grate and begin to roll it up. The corner of White Hart Lane in SW13 and Priests Bridge SW14.

Bill and the Girls help as Tom gathers the rope. White Hart Lane looking north with the junction of Eleanor Grove going off to the right. RL

John Harwood found much of the street's architecture obscured.

Appearing around a corner, Joe and Charlie continue to coil the rope as they walk. Priests Bridge at the junction with White Hart Lane with The Willoughbys in the background. RL

Zooming in over parked cars, John Harwood captured the scene now.

A Constable (Arthur Skinner) asks "What's this? The Indian rope trick!". White Hart Lane looking north with the junction of Eleanor Grove going off to the right together with The Albert Arms off licence on the corner. RL

John Harwood found no off licence at the corner.

Losing the rope when throwing it into the window at the top of the tower, the Children return the empty barrow. Facing west on Ham Common with St. Andrew's School in the background.

Peter Bywaters found that the building is still very recognisable today adding that it was built in 1890 as a school and in 1974 became St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic church.

Deciding to use another way to get into the tower, Joe looks for suitable items to pile on top of each other.

When a crate falls onto him, Joe gets trapped inside.

The youngster makes his way blindly along the street.

While Tom practices with a bow and arrow, Bill looks for something to lengthen the pole of a window hook.

Taking the window hook, Bill attaches a bean pole to it.

Walking along the street, Bill has an idea . . . White Hart Lane SW13 looking south with Treen Avenue to the left. RL

. . . to try out the longer pole on a shop's awning. White Hart Lane facing south towards Priest's Bridge. RL

Bill successfully pulls down the awning . . . Number 145 White Hart Lane. RL

. . . before pushing it back to how he found it. White Hart Lane with flats at 140-150 in the background. RL

As he walks away, Bill turns when he hears the awning fall open again. Facing north on White Hart Lane with Rosslyn Avenue going off to the right. RL

Having pushed the awning back into place, Bill stops around the corner when he again hears it open. Rosslyn Avenue looking north, the shop on the corner is now a house but the window remains.

Looking back at the shop, Bill sees the Shopkeeper open the awning. Facing east along White Hart Lane where the post box still stands. RL

While the Children try out their methods to reach the tower window, a Sergeant is puzzled when he sees what appears to be a walking box across the street. The Willoughbys on Priests Bridge seen from Fitgerald Avenue. RL

Joe staggers along the road.

The Sergeant loses the crate after following it through an alley.

Interrupting the Constable whilst he directs traffic, the Sergeant asks the if he's seen a box with feet. Fitzgerald Avenue looking north towards White Hart Lane and The Albert Arms off licence. RL

Taking this comparison, John Harwood found just as many cars as used in the film . . . only parked.

Spotting the crate between the stationary vehicles, the Sergeant attempts to capture it. The pattern on the brickwork above the windows of the houses suggests Fitzgerald Avenue. RL

When the traffic clears, Joe makes his way from the street. Fitzgerald Avenue looking north towards White Hart Lane and The Albert Arms off licence at the corner of Eleanor Grove. RL

A closer view of the junction 62 years on, by John Harwood.

Bill, Anne, Carol, Charlie and Tom return to the yard to see if they can borrow a ladder. Ham Common in Ham, Surrey with Vine Cottage in the left background.

Vine Cottage appears to have been given a new lease of life as Peter Bywaters discovered.

A little later, Tom's Dad and his Mate finish their work before returning to the yard.

The pair see Carol apparently carrying the ladder on her own at the far end of an entry way.

All is revealed to the viewer as Bill leading the others with all of them holding the ladder aloft.

Distracted as they walk, the ladder enters the boot of a car after Passers By are bumped into. White Hart Lane in Barnes where the Barber Shop sign is still in place after sixty two years. RL

The other end of the ladder gets caught in a Customer's basket as the Market Trader attempts to fill it with potatoes. White Hart Lane SW13. RL

Walking through a church yard, Charlie asks if they can have a rest. Church Walk in Richmond, Surrey.

The sun was in Peter Bywaters' lens but he managed to get an image adding "The tomb seen behind the ladder in the capture has been removed but the other structure that can just about be seen in the background is still there and is called The Cropley Monument."

The ladder gets tangled up with a Wedding Party outside the church. Church Walk outside St. Mary Magdalene's church in Richmond with Paradise Road and Red Lion Street in the right distance.

Only the wall mounted noticed board has changed in this view from Peter Bywater.

Guests and the Children attempt to extricate the latter. In front of St. Mary Magdalene's church, Richmond.

Peter Bywaters found today's quiet oasis in the centre of Richmond surrounded on all sides by a busy one-way system.

Free at last, the friends carry the ladder away. Looking along Church Walk towards the rear of the Wright Brothers Ltd. department store with the War Memorial to the right of centre.

The buildings in the background have changed and Peter Bywaters also discovered that the church has gained a new side entrance with the previous door position now bricked up.

Horns sound as cars comes to a halt when the ladder crosses the road in front of them.

The Sergeant tells Bill that he and his friends will have to move the ladder and starts to help.

At the other end of the ladder, the Constable also attempts to move it which results in it being pushed through Mr. Maggs' window.

Concentrating on adding up his takings, the Market Trader goes to sit on the crate that's walked up behind him. Looking north-west on White Hart Lane with flats 140-150 in the background. RL

Moving away and causing the Market Trader to land on the road, Joe wanders off.

While the Removal Men are collecting furniture from inside a house, Joe walks up the ramp of their pantechnicon.

After knocking over some delicate items in the back of the van, Joe returns to the pavement and hurries away,

As the Children near the moor, Mr. Manse (Leslie French) allows them to take the ladder on a short-cut through his house.

Still walking around beneath the crate, Joe bumps into a bollard. Looking along Ham Common from Ham Street in Ham, to the north of St. Andrew's School.

Peter Bywaters couldn't quite get the angle he wanted due to a parked car, but the road remains blocked by what appear to be the original concrete bollards.

Negotiating his way past a tea stall, Joe carries on. Facing the Crooked Billet public house on Ham Street, Ham. The premises closed and were demolished in 1996 with homes now occupying the land.

Hampered again by parked vehicles, Peter Bywaters captures the "new" houses that replaced the Crooked Billet along with the two surviving houses from the capture to the right of frame.

On their way back from the tower after discovering that the ladder was too short, Bill checks that the points are set for a different route before signalling that it's safe to cross a railway. The Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire.

The Signalman swings the points and the Children begin to hurry when they realise that a train is approaching. This appears to be the occupation crossing on the Hollywater Loop which can be seen in 'Runaway Railway'. Closing in 1969, the Longmoor Military Railway also features in 'The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery', 'The Magnificent Two' and 'Sons and Lovers'.

Walking backwards, Bill directs the ladder around a corner. Looking across White Hart Lane in SW13 towards Eleanor Grove from Fitzgerald Avenue. RL

John Harwood found no ladder in sight.

A Marching Band comes into view at the other end of the street. Fitzgerald Avenue looking towards Buxton Road where a new building has been added to the garages. RL

The ladder collides with the Musicians and their instruments. Fitzgerald Avenue SW14, outside number 25. RL

Looking for another way to reach the top of the tower, Carol and Charlie spot a poster advertising an auction in which an 80 foot fire escape ladder is being sold.

At Dunshore Manor, Bidders assemble for the auction.

The Auctioneer begins the sale outside the house and starts with the estate's fire appliance.

Having won the fire scape ladder for 5/6, the Children set about moving it to the tower.

The friends push the appliance from the estate.

The heavy vehicle gathers speed and heads straight for the swollen river with Tom on board. River Lane in Richmond, Surrey.

Further up the river, two Men open a sluice at the weir.

In his box, Joe reaches the river's edge.

Paddling through the rising water, Joe makes his way under a footbridge, past a dumped tricycle

As the others manage to get the appliance out of the river, Joe turns an Angler's head as he floats past.

The young lad continues his journey downstream.

At last Joe reaches dry land.

Bill and Anne guide the appliance through the town . . . The corner of White Hart Lane SW13 and Priests Bridge in SW14. RL

. . . and around a corner. Priests Bridge at the corer of White Hart Lane. RL

Cars and buses come to an abrupt halt as the mobile fire escape reaches a main road.

The Constable watches the cars reverse back along the road when the junction becomes blocked. Courland Grove off Union Grove in SW8 with Courland Grove Baptist Chapel to the left of centre, Alford Road in the distance and the sign for the Freemason's Arms to the right, located by Ian McDonald.

Only the chapel remains in Ian's capture.

Intervening to clear the road, the Policeman leads the Children and the escape ladder to the police station. Ian McDonald identifies Union Grove SW8 with Naylor House on Albion Avenue in the distance.

Ian provides the comparison.

The Policeman tells Bill, Anne, Tom, Carol and Charlie not to move while he goes inside. Ian McDonald explains that this is outside the police station at the corner of Union Grove and Smedley Street in SW8 with Christ Church in the left background.

A closer view of the church from Ian McDonald.

A little later, a police car appears and reverses up to the appliance. Union Grove with Kneller House on the Springfield Estate to the left recognised by Ian McDonald.

The same junction from Ian.

As Officers get out of the car and attaches a rope to the front of the mobile fire escape, the Policeman reappears from the police station. Ian McDonald found the police station at 51 Union Grove in Lambeth.

Ian took this shot of the former police station's doorway 62 years later.

The Constable tells the Children to climb onto their contraption as a Police Motorcyclist starts his machine. Facing south-west on Union Grove SW8 located by Ian McDonald.

With the friends on board, the police car follows the motorcycle escort to the moor with the mobile fire escape in tow. Facing southward on Alford Road with Courland Grove to the extreme left found by PW with help from Ian McDonald.

The camera pans with the strange convoy as a corner is taken. The 90° turn halfway along the short Alford Road in SW8. PW

Reaching the tower, Bill, Anne, Tom, Carol and Charlie deploy the fire escape ladder.

Having retrieved Joe's aeroplane as well as finding that Mrs. Manse's cat had given birth to kittens in the tower, the Children head home.

Anne hands over one of the kittens to Mr. Maggs (Peter Butterworth).

Nearby, the Marching Band begins to gain on Joe as he continues to waddle along the street. Facing the junction of Fitzgerald Avenue, White Hart Lane and Elanor Grove. RL

Tom's Dad and his Mate carry their long ladder through an alley.

Carrying Joe's aeroplane, Charlie and the others run from Mr. Maggs's house.

The Band, the ladder, the Market Trader's barrow, cars, vans and buses all converge to cause another traffic jam which the Children get caught up in. Fitzgerald Avenue in East Sheen SW14. RL

At a corner, Anne, Bill and Carol find Joe beneath the crate. The corner of Fitzgerald Avenue and White Hart Lane.

Charlie and Tom hand over the aircraft. Outside number 110 White Hart Lane looking south located by RL. Len Bridge recognised the aircraft as a Keil Kraft Gemini, rubber duration model.

"Gocha!", the Sergeant grabs hold of the box. The corner of Fitzgerald Avenue and White Hart Lane.

Finding the crate empty, the puzzled Sergeant looks up and down the road. Facing northward on White Hart Lane in Barnes SW13 with the level crossing signalbox in the right distance.