Up the Creek

Accompanied by his Flag Lieutenant, Admiral Foley is driven through London. Trafalgar Square in WC2.

Peter captured the same, familiar location.

The Admiral’s car draws up outside The Admiralty where Lieutenant Humphrey Fairweather is waiting to be disciplined. Little Sanctuary in SW1 with Parliament Square in the background. The street was seen in ‘Break in the Circle’.

A new building blocks the view of Canada House in Peter's modern view.

The accident-prone Lieutenant Fairweather drives towards Meadow End and his new posting on HMS Berkeley. Moor Mill Lane alongside the River Ver near Bricket Wood in Hertfordshire with Moor Mill in the left distance.

Lieutenant Humphrey Fairweather (David Tomlinson) stops to ask a Farmer (Donald Bisset) for directions. The bridge over the river has been removed following realignment of Smug Oak Lane between Smug Oak and the A5 at Colney Street.

After taking a short cut through the Suffolk countryside the Lieutenant arrives in Meadow End. The Green, Letchmore Heath in Hertfordshire with Leaper Cottages in the background.

Antony Blair returned to the the location.

Stopping at The Pig & Whistle, Humphrey asks the Publican (Reginald Beckworth) if there's anywhere that he can wash after his jaunt across the fields. This is the Three Horse Shoes public house on The Green in Letchmore Heath which is also seen in 'Village of the Damned', 'To Dorothy, a Son', 'The Child and the Killer', 'Die! Die! My Darling' and 'Confessions of a Window Cleaner'.

Not quite on angle but showing the tree stump outside the pub. SJ

While the Lieutenant charms French barmaid Susanne, Bates (Sam Kydd) runs from the pub when he discovers who the officer is. Outside the Three Horse Shoes, Letchmore Heath.

Again off angle but here's the present look. SJ

The seaman hurries to Palace Wharf to warn HMS Berkeley’s crew about the new Commander. Columbia Wharf, Greys in Essex.

Bates rides towards the mothballed ship where his shipmates are running several rackets including a bakery and a laundry service. This is the jetty at Columbia Wharf in Grays and the ship is the former HMS Berkeley Castle.

Lieutenant Fairweather eventually arrives at the wharf. Columbia Wharf has now been given over to residential use.

Chief Petty Officer Doherty (Peter Sellers) greets the new Commanding Officer. Facing landward from the jetty with workshops and cranes in the centre distance. Nothing in this shot remains.

The crew are eager for a lift as the Lieutenant drives to the village with Susanne to collect a package containing parts for his experimental rocket. The riverside is now occupied by buildings on Lewes Close, Grays.

At the station, Susanne (Liliane Sottane) gets out of the car followed by the Lieutenant and his crew. Bricket Wood station on the line between Watford Junction and St. Albans in Hertfordshire.

The disused ticket office is now in a right old state. (SR)

The Bosun and ratings walk away before returning to collect items secreted in the car's boot when the coast is clear. Looking from the car park at Bricket Wood station towards the Fox & Hounds public house on Station Road.

In the village, pastries and pies are delivered to a bakers shop by Cooky (John Warren). Looking towards Back Lane from The Green in Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire. The village was seen in ‘Village of the Damned’, 'Die! Die! My Darling!' and 'Confessions of a Window Cleaner'.

The same location, visited 64 years later by Antony Blair.

Lofty (Max Butterfield) carries laundry boxes to a house on a lane. Facing east on Common Lane in Letchmore Heath.

Antony Blair faced the same way.

Mrs. Moore answers the knock at the door and the clean linen is handed over. Common Lane, Letchmore Heath.

The properties now have enclosed porches as discovered by Antony Blair.

Scouse (David Lodge) takes paint into the Decorator’s shop. Outside the former Post Office on The Green in Letchmore Heath.

Antony Blair found a more colourful scene.

Lieutenant Fairweather enlists the help of a tractor to move the huge package. Bricket Wood station also appears in 'Poison Pen', ‘She’ll Have to Go’, ‘The Man from Yesterday’, ‘Night of the Demon’, 'Murder in Reverse?' and ‘Double Confession'.

After suffering a flat tyre on the way, Susanne and the Lieutenant eventually reach the Pig & Whistle. The Three Horse Shoes on The Green, Letchmore Heath.

The bay windows are unchanged. SJ

Discovering what the crew are up to, the Lieutenant confronts the Bosun. HMS Berkeley Castle was a Castle Class Corvette, launched in 1943 at Glasgow.

Admiral Foley arrives at South East Command. Shell Rubin has identified the entrance gateway to the Royal National Orthopædic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore in Middlesex. A similar view appears in 'Eyewitness'. (RL)

Antony Blair paid a visit to the hospital.

The Admiral goes inside and makes arrangements to visit bases between horse races. Shell Rubin also places this as The Royal National Orthopædic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Eastgate House in fact. (RL)

Following Shell's directions, Antony Blair arrived at the right spot.

Lieutenant Fairweather is blackmailed by the Bosun into collecting paint from the Naval Supply Base in exchange for rum. Looking towards Shenley Road from the junction of Theobold Street, Station Road and Allum Lane in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire with the War Memorial on the extreme left.

When he gets lost on the way, a Policeman (Leonard Fenton) is asked for directions. The corner of Shenley Road and Station Road, Borehamwood. Turning the other way is the bridge over the railway that was seen in the Children's Film Foundation short ‘Kontiki Kids’.

Outside the Royal Naval Supply Base, Officers wait for Admiral Foley to appear. Anthony McKay was looking through some New Elstree Studios productions for research and was pleasantly surprised to see the studios used here as the Navy base.

When the Admiral’s car is seen approaching, Coombes (Basil Dignam) runs inside the gateway to organise the welcoming parade. New Elstree Studios on Elstree Road in Elstree, Hertfordshire found by Anthony McKay.

Turning in from the opposite direction to the Admiral, Lieutenant Fairweather drives through the gates. More of New Elstree Studios identified by Anthony McKay.

Arriving seconds later, Admiral Foley (Wilfrid Hyde-White) and his Flag Lieutenant (Tom Gill) get out of the car to be met by Coombes. Anthony McKay locates this as the Danziger's New Elstree Studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

The crew all look towards the sky after the Fairweather Falcon Mk4 rocket is accidentally launched. Having capsized in 1953, HMS Berkeley Castle arrived at Thomas W. Ward, ship-breakers in Grays during February 1956.