 |
THE INVISIBLE MAN
LOCATION TOUR 2009
by Robert HickeyIn 2008 the ON THE BUSES fans came to Boreham Wood to celebrate the show and the 3 films of which were made in Boreham Wood.I became involved with the planning of the event and subsequently was a tour guide taking fans to locations where the films were made.I did my own general locations walking tour on the Sunday and everyone who came along seemed to enjoy it.In December 2008 came word that we would do the ON THE BUSES event again in June 2009 and so planning had to start.Another general locations tour appealed to me but this one needed to be different so what could i do?Well ......I
had a dream,a dream that I could bring Deborah Watling back to THE INVISIBLE MAN locations she filmed at as a child some 50 years earlier,but could the dream become reality?I e-mailed Deborah but because of a communication breakdown,i didnt receive a reply until February.This reply was a phone call and on the other end was ...Deborah, I couldnt believe it as she begged me to calm down.We talked at length and Deborah agreed to come on the tour,I had met Deborah before at various tv conventions around the country but I never believed she would agree to this.With a special guest now signed up it was down to work on the planning side,locations were visited,people spoken to,letters written and phone calls made along with a trip to Birmingham where Deborah was attending the Memorabilia event, so that I could give her travel directions,maps and go over a few things with her.Before long a tour featuring INVISIBLE MAN locations along with some other scenic locations in and around Boreham Wood was finalised and a mini-bus
booked.Three weeks before I went out with our mini-bus driver on a dress rehearsal
for the June 28th event,one day after the ON THE BUSES event.It was also arranged
that Deborah would attend the annual Elstree Film Evening on the 27th and so it was my pleasure to arrange accommodation for Deborah in one of our local hotels.Following the ON THE BUSES event I made my way to the hotel and was delighted to see Deborah had arrived,we spent a pleasant half hour chatting
particularly as my Dad Michael Hickey had spent 61 years in the tv and film
industry and counted Jack Watling as a friend having worked with him on numerous
occasions.That evening it was my pleasure to escort Deborah to the film event and
to escort her back afterwards where,in the hotel bar we shared a drink before
Deborah retired and I went home.The following morning I met Deborah at the hotel and escorted her to the tours starting point in Fairway Avenue,Boreham Wood.The fans who had booked with me didnt know that they were getting a special guest into the bargain and they were astonished when Deborah turned up with me. After dedicating the tour to our two late Fathers we set off for what would be a very memorable 3 hours.First stop was Hertswood School,Boreham Wood as seen in the INVISIBLE MAN episode BANK RAID,this is where Crowther [Willoughby Goddard] poses as a doctor and kidnaps Sally saying her Mother is in hospital following an accident.The school has changed a lot in 50 years as Deborah noted.Then we visited All Saints Pastoral Centre,London Colney as seen as the courthouse in THE RETURN OF THE SAINT episode COLLISION COURSE,then on to ShenleyBury Churchyard featured in the opening credits of RETURN OF THE SAINT,THE AVENGERS Diana Rigg episode HOW TO SUCCEED AT MURDER and
the JOURNEY TO THE UNKNOWN episode PAPER DOLLS.Then it was on to our main event Manor Cottage in Shenley seen as Peter,Diane and Sally Bradys home throughout the INVISIBLE MAN series.It was a proud moment when I showed Deborah the house which she hadnt seen in 50 years.Our hosts Roland and Sue Wylde [the proprietors] were there to greet us along with Rolands Mother,indeed Roland and his Mother remembered Deborah as a little girl and Roland doubled for Deborah in a scene from BANK RAID.Tea and biscuits were served as the fans and myself took countless photos and The Boreham Wood Times local newspaper photographer arrived and took photos.After this it was presentation time as Deborah received flowers,champagne and a framed certificate commemorating the 50 th anniversary of THE INVISIBLE MAN 1959-2009,and courtesy of AMAZON one of our tour walked away with THE INVISIBLE MAN dvd series 1 as his name was drawn out of the hat. Deborah stated that it was a wonderful trip down memory lane. This was to be a very special part of what was a wonderful event and we stayed at the house for an hour. Indeed,the house has changed very little in 50 years apart from the fact that the white fence and gate are missing.Following this we made a brief visit to the Shenley Triangle,much filming has been done there including in the INVISIBLE MAN episode MAN IN DISGUISE where Sally and Peter Brady drive by in pursuit of the villains...and Deborah remembered the triangle. Next up was Tykes Water Lake in Elstree which is on private land and special permission had to be granted before we could visit. Much filming has taken place at Tykes Water over the years ,most notably in the Linda Thorson episodes of THE AVENGERS where in the opening credits Tara King runs across the edge of a bridge.The area was seen in the INVISIBLE MAN episode BANK RAID where Williams [Brian Rawlinson] engages Sally in conversation at the waters edge where
Sally is fishing,prior to his attempt to kidnap her.Deborah and I recreated this scene complete with script just for fun...Deborah was a good sport. After this we headed to THE EDGWAREBURY HOTEL,Elstree which has been used many times including in the INVISIBLE MAN episode PICNIC WITH DEATH where it doubles as Fox Grange where Peter and Diane[Lisa Daniely]drive up and knock on the door...Deborah did not film at this location.We then headed for Barham
Avenue,Elstree where the house called THE ORCHARDS was seen in THE RETURN OF THE SAINT episode THE DEBT COLLECTORS and we finished at Clarendon Road,Boreham Wood seen at the end of the BANK RAID episode where Sally walks off with Peter after Williams and Crowther have been apprehended by the police.The Neptune Studios where much filming of THE INVISIBLE MAN took place and is now the B.B.C. are just to the right.At the end we all thanked Deborah who then proceeded to sign autographs and pose for more photos.Deborah was a magnificent guest and I cannot thank her enough,she made what would have been a good tour into a wonderful tour....DEBORAH I
THANK YOU AGAIN,Robert Hickey....
for location tours please contact me at
roberthickey2@btinternet.com............ Dave,my thanks again to you....Robert.