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THE GROVE FAMILY (BBC)
Prevention and Cure - A 1956 story that appears at first acquaintance to be one of those dreadful public service announcements.
No less a personage than the local
police detective inspector (in the shape of John Stuart) gives the Groves tips on crime prevention. Specially helpful is "Don't bring your furs downstairs," or how about "Keep the brass polished on your front door"!
As the Groves do all the right things, it's a poor neighbour who's burgled. But Mr Groves nicks the crook so all ends happily, as usual.
Under Way -"Girls aren't beautiful," thinks young Lennie. Gran is thinking "this holiday'll be a disaster." Perhaps that's because she's not going! With eight in a small bungalow she could be right, or make that ten as Gran is wedging in with her friend. The journey down has its problems with the family in a packed railway compartment, except for those in the car bringing the boat on a trailer- it breaks down. At last, safely there (Hayling Island?). Whilst Edward Evans grapples with putting up a deck chair, Christopher Beeny clowns around in their boat. All good holiday fun, until the boat capsizes and a helicopter rescue has to be mounted. Much of this on film. And all in 24 minutes! Derek Nimmo has a minor part
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COMPACT (BBC)
A serial set in the offices of a women's magazine.
2 Advice to Readers (January 1962) - Alison Gray's starstruck 15 year old daughter has run away, so why not write the Problem Page about Alison's own difficulty? The girl runs to Ted Willis, THE Ted Willis in fact, and is given a reality check. Well TW was no actor, and he certainly sets a poor example to the aspiring actress, with several muffed lines! Other storylines- an irritable Mark struggles to find a gripping serial whilst Richard (the excellent Moray Watson) arranges a display of "bangles, beads and baubles." With a circulation of only 200,000 there's plenty of pressure to attract more readers. But one is certainly put off by edition no2, for when Alison's daughter reads about herself, she runs away again!
373 Journey's End (1965) - The final episode.
This finale has some happy endings for the characters, if not for some of the cast who faced unemployment.
An office party rounds off a happy day.
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CORONATION STREET (Granada)
Who appeared in the series starting in 1969 playing Betty Williams?
Answer
Many episodes have been reissued on dvd of Granada's most successful iconic soap opera.
However I cannot claim to be a fan,
though one enjoyable episode was this:
An interesting location day with the female inhabitants of the Street on a tour of a
stately home whilst the lads have a drinking trip on a canal barge. With an appearance from
the unique Arnold (Dad's Army) Ridley.
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EMERGENCY WARD 10 (ATV)
Scheduled for a six week run in 1957, this hospital drama eventually ran for ten years and reached almost 1,000 programmes.
Original scriptwriter was Tessa Diamond, herself the daughter of a doctor, but later two others were drafted to help write the stories, Rachel Grieve and Hazel Adair. Original producer Anthony Kearey who also directed some episodes was given two other directors, Rex Firkin and Christopher Morahan.
Useless Information Department: In 1957 rehearsals were held above a pub in Marchmont Street near Russell Square in London.
In 1965, there were five make-up artists working at Elstree on this series. Miss Maureen Lee was in charge.
The following year, the successful format was unwisely changed to a once-a-week programme.
A typical viewer reaction was summed up in this letter (TV Times 25 Feb 67), "is there any hope of a return to the old style EW10? I have reserved judgment,
hoping for better things... we now see our favourite hospital staff only two or three at a time and they appear to be merely a background for phoney characters in phoney stories."
Nearly all these stories have been thankfully preserved on the Network dvds, though a couple seem to have eluded Network:
247 - 30th June 1959 - Nurse Jo Buckley (Barbara Clegg) is dreamy as she's just become engaged to Chris Anderson.
And Dr Peter Harrison is just back from America, his first task to try and gee up painter Mary Cunningham (Maxine Holden), injured in a coach crash.
Dr Forrester is treating Mr Fortune, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Dr Donald Latimer (John Carson) examines a man who has fallen from a horse and with Dr Harrison performs an operation.
The nurses are discussing plans for a proposed recreation room. Everything is prepared for the arrival of an important sheik....
(probably) 248- 3rd July 1959- Patients include His Serene Highness ("a spoilt child") who refuses
to have his "clips" removed by so unimportant a personage as Dr Dawson.
There's also a professional ballroom dancer recuperating after a botched operation on his
leg. Will he sue? "What an outrageous idea!" Then in casualty there's Mr Grimes
(Gordon Phillott) who announces "I've swallowed me teeth!" A lot of x-rays are needed to
locate his "grinders." Behind the scenes Dr Harrison is meeting the new architect
Charles Wood, trying to undo the botched building works. "Mr Harrison's bark is
much worse than his bite," Wood is told. And we see Sister Mary (Iris Russell)
starting her rather disconcerting time and motion study, which even extends to
checking on poor Dr Harrison cooking in his own kitchen
254 - 24th July 1959 - By now Mr Fortune is recovering from his operation. One patient, Ruby Ellis finds Nurse Jo's engagement ring, and keeps it!
It had already been a bad day for Jo, as she was the only nurse not to receive her examination results.
A patient in casualty has acid burns on his hands but is discharged after treatment. Potter the porter is sent dashing after him when it's realised it could be more serious:
"if that acid gets into the blood stream, it may start convulsions." A new volunteer nurse, Angela, is introduced, working on Women's Medical. Sister Mary
continues her Time and Motion study
255 - 28th July 1959 - In Ante-Natal, a South African, Mrs Cutler,
who has recovered from TB, is pregnant. Carole Young suspects Miss Ellis of
stealing articles including Jo's ring, so asks the vicar to make inquiries. Dr
Harrison's building works are going ahead, now he and Dr Dawson, who is just
back from France and raving about his girl friend, are having to judge the Baby
Show at the fete. With 220 entries, it's going to be a long afternoon! To
relieve the tension, Dawson plays around on a motor scooter and in the worst
staged accident in tv history, runs someone over. The man is rushed to Casualty:
"he's in pretty poor shape"
260 - 14th August 1959 - One of the few patients we see is an arsonist known as Mr X (Colin Douglas); a reporter
(Donald Churchill) sniffs out his identity. The focus of this story is The Wedding, as Nurse Jo sheds a last lingering look at her old haunts,
and becomes a little morbid. She cheers up when Chris Anderson's mother helps her prepare for the Big Day. Chris himself is enjoying his last
night with best man Simon Forrester, maybe becoming a little too jolly, such as when they lose, of course, the ring: "what about forresting you Dr Frisk?"
In a nearly very fine scene, he sobers up with Dr Harrison: "marriage is a very serious thing." The ceremony and reception follow in the cramped studio
261 - 18th August 1959 - After the heights of the wedding, this is not at all absorbing. Mr X turns out to be named Archie Briggson and contemplates suicide.
Staff are doing more dating than working, de la Roux takes Sister Stevenson to dinner, whilst Dr Forrester is smitten by the colonel's granddaughter (Maureen Beck).
Nurse Blake is to meet architect Charles Wood, but he stands her up
262 - 21st August 1959 - Dr Dawson is being sued by the colonel for £200 over the scooter accident (in story 255), but is persuaded to put in a counter claim.
Sue, the colonel's granddaughter persuades the old man to drop the case. Dr Harrison is jealous after de la Roux's evening with Mary Stevenson: "what an absurd name
for a doctor. Sounds more like a conjuror!" There's plenty of fun at the staff tennis tournament- we only see the crowd and hear the sound of the ball. As for the patients-
Joe Masters, "model patient" is now ready to be discharged whilst "our Mrs Hill" (Dandy Nichols) who used to run the cafe over two years earlier, is back with a mystery illness that
causes Dr Forrester to admit her
263 - 25th August 1959 - Whilst Mrs Hill is diagnosing other patients' illnesses, Dr Simon Forrester is having more difficulty working out what's wrong with her.
Briggson faces arrest, but has medical complications, more when his wife comes to the hospital, though "a kerfuffle" is avoided. Peter Harrison is still harking back to Sally's death over a year ago.
"Sally is still a large part of my life," he tells Mary Stevenson, and their relationship remains unresolved. A new restaurant, The Hayloft run by a friend of Bill, is opened, early
customers including Simon and Carole, Sue and Alan Dawson who find it "more like a morgue"
265 - 1st September 1959 - Ahhh! Chris and Jo are back from a "marvellous" honeymoon, and back to work, he helps diagnose
Mrs. Hill's tumour, before accepting the post of temporary locum of the fearsome de la Roux. Archie Briggson is more cheerful, but there's new crisis looming.
From 100 miles away a student phones to report his 8 month pregnant wife has contracted polio, and "polio man" Dr Harrison is away this week! The student drives his wife to Oxbridge...
266 - 4th September 1959 - An extended look at the treatment pregnant polio victim Wendy Faulkner receives in a fearsome looking Iron Lung, more like a "spaceship." Dr Harrison and de la Roux
examine her, whilst her anxious husband watches and waits. Elsewhere Dr John Brooks is being turned down for adoption, so maybe this is a hint of the outcome of Wendy's operation? As that master of understatement Dr Harrison
has it: "the next 48 hours may be a bit tricky"
268 - 11th September 1959 - Awaiting her baby to be born, Wendy still lies in the Iron Lung.
Mrs Hill is scheduled for a sudden operation, "doing a Stirling Moss down the corridor."
Dawson and Forrester squabble over Nurse Susan Campbell, and Dr Harrison has to miss the opening of his new unit,
when he's called away urgently. Finally there's a new patient, Mrs Gibson- is she as she implies, being poisoned by her husband?
269 - 15th September 1959 - Alan Dawson finally gets his date with Sue, only to be interrupted by his French friend Jacqueline!
De la Roux deals with "least happy mother" Mrs Garland, after her premature labour. An exchange transfusion is needed for the baby, but is Sam her husband the father?
Chris Anderson nearly falls out with Jo over it. Another urgent problem is whether police should be contacted about Mrs Gibson's confirmed poisoning
270 - 18th September 1959 - Sam Garland is told he's not the baby's father and gloomy Mrs Gibson is cheered up slightly by Mrs Hill. After Alan Dawson's disastrous date with Sue, Simon Forrester cashes in and dates her.
Then Wendy Faulkner goes into labour
385 - 25th October 1960 - Miss Carson (Julia Foster) faces a long road to recovery after being nearly crippled.
About to run away from home, Eileen (Katy Wild) has fallen downstairs, and is placed in the adjacent hospital bed for observation. But the two girls are rivals for Martin's hand.
Alan Dawson has the hard job of choosing a new secretary, then nervously receives his first private patient, the mayor. Audrey, his fiancee, spends her birthday having her sinuses washed
386 - 28th October 1960 - mechanical continuation of the storyline, Eileen Crawley's operation, Miller in charge: "do you see what I see?"- it's a giant cyst. Mr Barrow's stitches come out, allowing him time to worry about his
estranged wife, which gives him a turn for the worse. Plans are in an advanced stage for the staff halloween party
387 - 1st November 1960 - another dull episode: Anne Carson very slowly improves and rather snubs her boyfriend when he visits. Tom Barrow is an equally irritable patient, though
his cough is now "productive." The not very well attended staff halloween party is a bit of a frost, to watch as well as attend, until Dr John Faulkner swaps clothes with Nurse Foster. Matron spots him lurking outside the nurses' home, lurking in the
rhododendrons, but thankfully Dr Harrison sorts out a storm in a teacup
388 - 4th November 1960 -Audrey shows Aunt Alison from Edinburgh around town, including a thinly attended fashion show.
Alan Dawson's new private patient has been seen by "the lot," for doctors are her "hobby." But he does fix the date with Audrey.
Mrs Barrow is told by Mrs Nesbitt that her husband won't see her. She's frightened as she has been borrowing on the hp.
Miss Crawley continues to worry about Martin and Anne.
Visitor Mrs Crane faints, and Mrs Nesbitt sorts out about looking after her cats
389 - 8th November 1960 - Actress Brownie makes a return, to borrow money from her sister Joan. Mrs Crane's feet are still tingling and Barrow stubbornly refuses convalescence,
though the almoner attempts to reunite him with his wife Lily. The wedding date is finally settled as Nov 25th, and it's a gigantic wedding list- 110 guests!
390 - 11th November 1960 - Anne Carson is much more cheerful but is apprehensive when Dr Harrison insists she stands up for the first time.
Mrs Crane has recovered after her sternal puncture, but Dr Anderson suspects pelvic tb- "you're right," agrees Dr Whittaker.
Sister Joan Phillips' afternoon out with Derek is cut short when they find Brownie has had a haemorrhage, and they rush her to Oxbridge. Twice we see actor Brian Nissen's watch, which at least,
as it reads 7.45, proves the show was shown live!
391 - 15th November 1960 - Dr Rennie quizzes Brownie about her mystery illness. Tom half patches things up with his wife, though Anne Carson is in tears having thrown out Martin.
Alan Dawson's past catches up with him in the shapely form and "soupy voice" of Karen Phipps who still holds a torch for him, "you'll be Sir Alan before you know where you are!"
Audrey resolves to face up to her, and all ends happily
392 - 18th November 1960 - Potter, the head porter, cheers Brownie up, and kindly lends her £2. She undergoes a barium meal, in one of the more documentary-type of stories.
Dr Harrison is agitated about the lack of soundproofing in the new hospital wing, but can't raise the issue properly at the committee meeting because the building contractor Mr Amberson
develops renal pains. Complications ensue when Dr Whittaker treats him, for he's actually Alan Dawson's very first private patient
393 - 22th November 1960 - Dawson is back to "crush" Amberson's stone. "What's the fee? he asks. We watch a bit of the op- Dawson's first patient,
Amberson jokes afterwards, "fortunately, I've survived." Brownie is feeling "sorry for herself," a thoroughly unlikeable character, and Dr Whittaker seeks a second opinion.
Mr Fosdick, a butcher, has again dislocated his shoulder, the almoner works out how his shop can stay open. The episode ends with Alan Dawson's stag party, very mild
394 - 25th November 1960 - Audrey doesn't eat a hearty breakfast on her wedding day. Alan is feeling the effects of his stag night.
Happiness is marred by the news of Audrey's father's serious illness, though she is not told how bad he is.
There's a good moment when Dr Whittaker, who has agreed to give the bride away at the last moment, practises his role with De la Roux. 2.30pm is the time for the wedding, and Whittaker nearly forgets his line.
Treating a diabetic, Dr Rennie has to miss it all, the exceptionally brief speech by best man Dr Harrison, the cake cutting and plenty of laughs from telegrams from old friends.
But one telegram has to be kept from the happy couple...
396 - 2nd December 1960 - Dr Rennie treats an unconscious patient, a "big noise" at the Ministry named Richard Wralford-Smith (Brian Oulton). Brownie Bevan is still depressed, and depressing us, but is now ready for Brooks to operate- it all goes "very well."
And jovial Dr Paddy O'Meara has returned from West Africa- "everything's changed here"
397 - 6th December 1960 - Rehearsals for the Christmas concert seem far too loud, disturbing a restless Brownie on her bed of pain.
Richard is taken to Thamebridge Hospital for neuro surgery conducted by Dr Mozart (Gerard Heinz) in another semi-documentary interlude.
Alan and Audrey Dawson have a happy meal reminiscing with Carole and Paddy.
399 - 13th December 1960 - Pregnant Christine Baxter develops bronchitis, while her husband Tony loses his job. Richard is recuperating, but his wife Celia finds out about his 'other' visitor, girlfriend Susan. New casualty officer Don Nolan starts work and gives Paddy
advice on his lecture to nurses on witchdoctors, hardly improving the content with a lot of "African blarney"
400 (16th December 1960) - 19 months pregnant Mrs Baxter receives a worrying letter from Tony's former employer. Dr Nolan starts in casualty with a gaffe- old Mrs Harbottle has abdominal pains, but Dr O'Meara remembers her as a malingerer. He however has his own difficulties persuading
Dr Whittaker to give him a temporary locum
401 (20th December 1960) - final rehearsal for the Christmas show tempts the "lousy" Brownie to sneak preview, against Dr Rennie's orders, with disastrous results.
Nolan's opinon on the "antediluvian" Oxbridge goes down not at all well, and his treatment of an emergency with a cut hand isn't quite orthodox either
402 (23rd December 1960) - Christine Baxter is worried her baby might be affected by her operation. Mary Nesbitt visits Mrs Parry but forgets to 'switch' her phone. Later she remembers and finds the old lady distressed,
with a broken hip- "will it get all right, doctor?"
Richard Wralford-Smith is "covered with confounded spots," and pestered by visits from Susan and wife Celia. "What have you decided?"
405 (3rd January 1961) - Mrs Baxter's operation is tomorrow, but her husband persuades her it's very dangerous and she asks for it not to proceed.
Mr Lipton is dangerously ill, but won't tell Dawson what drugs he has been taking. By "oblique" methods, he does come clean, and this gives Paddy the notion to attempt similar methods on Christine Baxter. Joanna, Audrey's sister (Dorothy Gordon) knows she is ill, is it glandular fever?
406 (6th January 1961) - After discussion of the floods, there's a nicely done cosy chat between Desmond Carrington and Jane Downs.
The focus is on Mrs Baxter, but her consultant Mr Powell gets stuck in the lift during a power cut. Finally the op proceeds, Dr Chris Anderson watching. But he is worried himself, for he hasn't heard from his wife Jo, and the floods are rising. When the operation is over, Tony Baxter is at last able to smile at his wife. Joanna Harvey's illness continues to puzzle until the test results come through, though even now an accurate prognosis is not possible
408 (13th January 1961) - "All hands to the pump," literally during the floods. But Chris is stunned- Jo and their baby drowned! Carole consoles his mum, while Paddy and John Rennie help drown his sorrows in the pub. Joanna Harvey is still wondering if something is "ghastly wrong" as Dr Whittaker performs a liver biopsy. A new patient is the Bishop of Oxbridge, his arm in a sling
409 (17th January 1961) -Another fine scene starts the story off, Peter Harrison comforting Chris as best he can, "I want to die too." Joanna is encouraged by Paddy, who tests his own theory on her illness surreptiously in the sluice. Success, which puts him on top of the world, humming the latest Adam Faith hit.
A professor with burns is admitted by Dr Nolan to bed six. Another in casualty is Jacky aged 11 with diabetes. He's brought in by a friend from next door, Gladys (Annette Whiteley, not convincing as yet in her acting career), who sneaks Jackie out of the hospital, "he'll be in a coma..."
410 (20th January 1961) - Rather weak acting from several, including one need for a prompter. 3% sugar, Jackie's sugar level, "that could be fatal." Gladys promises to say where Jackie might be hiding if the leader of their gang Frankie agrees. It's a derelict boatbuilder's hut. It's touch and go as Paddy reaches him. The prof's burns are treated by Dr Sitje, but what is wrong with the patient's eyesight?
411 (24th January 1961) - Perhaps the series was now at its peak. Though the confident prof forgets one line at a vital moment before King the opthalmologist examines him thoroughly. Later he conducts a field of vision test, and diagnoses a tumour. From her hotel room, Miss April Sands (Anna Cropper), having been jilted by one Ted, is weeping. Downstairs Chris Anderson is similarly depressed, on his last day. Dr Whittaker and Peter Harrison join him but are then asked by the manager (Trevor Reid) to treat a suicide in Room 103. She's going to be a "pet patient," Audrey Dawson observes later. It's all so calm compared with today's medical frenzy. Joanna is still being treated by Paddy O'Meara, "you're getting better." So it's farewell to Chris, "don't drift," Peter Harrison advises him in all seriousness, and it's left to Paddy to cheer 'em up
412 (27th January 1961) - This story is based on the women's ward with Joanna about to leave ("can't wait to get out of here") flying out to Entebbe tomorrow. April admits to Dr Whittaker "I was a fool." A new nurse Jill, Puss to her friends, commences night duty for the first time, with lights out at 9pm- really! Mrs Small keeps everyone awake with her noises, then at 11pm Casualty ask for a coronary to be admitted so a bed is prepared. Dr O'Meara treats the new patient with morphine, and while resting in the kitchen, takes a shine to 'Puss,' who does up a makeshift bed for him in a wheelchair
414 (3rd February 1961) - The prof, his head shaved undergoes his operation. Audrey Dawson deals with her own delicate problem of being behind on the HP payments as well as giving April advice, it turns out she is expecting. Peter has another of his chats with Chris and a jolly dentist is assisted by Dr Rennie, though extracting teeth isn't that jolly. A new patient, Mr Crowther, is admitted after his ceiling had fallen on him
416 (10th February 1961) - The prof is now chatting up Nurse Carole Young. But the main action is in Casualty where Chris is on duty. "Holy terror" Myfanwy Pritchard proves more trousblesome than her husband with his "nasty cough" (that we never hear!). Pneumonia, so he has to be admitted. Returning patient Mrs Banks (Diana Coupland) is found to have a breast abscess which is quickly removed while Dr Rennie is left to feed her baby
417 (14th February 1961) - Film of the new wing: Paddy's scheme for burying a canister in the foundation is not well received, but vanity brings the consultants round, and they hijack the scheme. Paddy, in between chatting up Nurse Sue Cornish, collects his own souvenirs, and in a touch of farce, Dr Nolan swaps the consultants' learned material for more ephemeral stuff, "what a laugh." But the last laugh isn't with Mr Pritchard whose belongings are the items accidentally buried. More seriously, six year old Tricia Hare is brought into Casualty and Dr Nolan diagnoses diphtheria and performs an urgent tracheotomy to make the point to viewers of the importance of immunisation
418 (17th February 1961) - well written script by Rachel Grieve about Nurse Carole Young, who reflects on her four years in the hospital. At the end, Paddy treats her to a meal and they go over old times and friends, Pat Roberts, why she didn't marry John etc. Paddy informs Jock that his ulcer hasn't healed, but the operation needed is turned down, until Jock blacks out in the bathroom. "Nothing to worry about." Pritchard is also anxious over more Xrays that Chris Anderson believes are necessary. Lonely Mr Crowther has forgotten that it's his birthday, Mr Harding arranges a game of bingo with a fixed result for him, and Carole gives him a lovely cake
419 (21st February 1961) - Harold de la Roux is "pure marshmallow," though Dr Rennie is scared enough of him. De la Roux does comfort a depressed Mrs Grimston then treats an emergency, back again Miss Sands, whose abortion has gone wrong. Pritchard is surprisingly cheered after worrying about his will, when he is informed he only has a cyst. Peter has another of his heart to hearts with Chris, who is patently overworking. Paddy throws a party, another party, where John Rennie and Carole patch it up
420 (24th February 1961) - After the party, a reflective Paddy plays squash with Bingle (Neil Hallett). Mr Parrish (Frederick Piper) is brought into Casualty, injured in a road accident, and is treated by Dr Nolan. He has several fractured ribs, and Chris Anderson has then to treat him for a collapsed lung. Another casualty is the excitable Mrs French, who needs stitches. On a lighter note, the staff rehease an awful play, organised by Carole, written by the son of consultant Brooks, and Paddy & Co decide to jolly it up
421 (28th February 1961) - Mr Parrish's daughter brings dad some mementoes. A poignant moment as consultant Curtis sympathises with the old man about widowhood, while recently widowed Dr Chris Anderson listens impassively. Pritchard signs the pledge before his operation, but his formidable wife insists he is discharged to go back home to Wales. Curtis puts her nicely down and the operation proceeds, pictures nicely overlaid with Pritchard's dream of his dog and their sheep, look you. Footnote: the books on sister's shelf look anything but medical!
709 (2nd June 1964)
712 (12th June 1964)
714 (19th June 1964)
715 (23rd June 1964)
716 (26th June 1964)
724 (24th July 1964) - The main storyline features Dr Giles Farmer (John White) and his incorrigible dad ("the trouble he causes"), who's admitted into casualty after a fainting spell. Has he got lung cancer? Gruff Dr Grant orders a full investigation.
Also about actress Sally Graham (Annette Andre) who has a difficult relationship with her producer Charles ("watch it sweetie, you're upset."). She finds an admirer in Dr Gittings before she's discharged.
And new matron's reforms are revealed.
726 (31st July 1964) - Dr Grant is now occupied with a runaway newlywed (Natasha Pyne) who has a broken back. But he still has time to ogle "overpowering" Barbara Dodge (Marti Stevens) who's arrived from the US to date "best looking" Dr Marshall (Tom Adams). She sings one extraordinary song.
Also about matron's reforms, which are nearly put on hold after some diplomacy.
And Dr Giles' dad is finally discharged to a sanatorium.
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CROSSROADS (ATV)
If you're a glutton for punishment, quite a lot of surviving episodes are available on dvd from the usual outlets.
496 (1966)-
Meg: "Stop making a melodrama out of everything." Surely not!
A romantic lake at night, but not so for Derek who is searching for his wife.
Not so romantic either, is Bill's brusque proposal to Marilyn,
"I'm not leaving here till you promise to marry me." But she's just being "a tease."
"You need someone to look after you," Meg tells Jimmy (Hanley), not proposing, but she
agrees to be Jimmy's mural The Spirit of the Midlands
497
- Of Marilyn: "you're pretty high on their hit parade."
Miss Tatem's dog is found guilty of molesting sheep, but she solves her problem by deciding to move to Portsmouth, with Sandy as company.
1182 (1969)
- There's a lot more overacting and muffed lines now, especially in part one, and even old hand Jack Haig as Archie isn't immune. Part two improves with Meg's appearance- she's laid low with an inexplicable "ringing in her ears."
With Archie attempting to mastermind renovations, it's chaos at the motel! Caroline's dad Tiger (John Gatrell), who's searching for his daughter who's run away with Terry, sums it all up- "is this a madhouse?" he asks
1754 (July 1972)
- "It's awful about Sandy." Keep hoping, says Amy Turtle. "Noone's exactly cheerful today." There's some location shooting at Coventry Cathedral to enhance the sense of worry over the unconscious Sandy. Poor Meg waits anxiously in the hospital. Dr Bill Ryan encourages, "don't give up hope." But Liz has to tell Meg she can't stand ill people, not exactly a comfort
1759 (August 1972) - Tish is engaged to Ted. Amy Turtle is asked to return to the motel. A depressed Meg revives a little as Sandy stirs. "There's no feeling in my legs."
In Coventry Cathedral Timothy Hunter (Derek Farr) reminisces with her over the war years and Sandy's accident. Scenes as she walks through the new cathedral, if this had been a quiz question, you'd never guess this was Crossroads. About Religion maybe? An organ plays over the end titles
1895 (March 1973) - David: "Rosemary, what's wrong?" It's cancer, "I'd rather live in ignorance." More serious issues when an argument centres on abortion. "Feelings, lad," are the winning point for me, as these two contemporary issues are dealt with quite well. To romance, and all Hugh Mortimer can offer Meg according to his rivals is "money, charm, position." But Meg has to be realistic, "it's over Hugh, we've just been daydreaming." But Hugh prolongs the dream
2301 (March 1975) - Meg and Hugh are both jittery as their big day dawns, "blimey you look very grim!" Only a flash of the registry office ceremony then the second part of the programme is given over entirely to the service at the "cathedral" lead by the canon (Edwin Richfield), plus a choir and cast of hundreds. It ends with a smiling Meg and Hugh posing outside
2302 - Back from America, Diane misses the wedding. At the Droitwich Hotel, there's almost a big cast for the happy reception. Stephanie de Sykes sings We'll Find Our Day, and Larry Grayson chauffeurs away the happy couple
2602 (August 1976)- Scandal as Sir Hector books the motel, but on what basis? Glenda hitches a lift on a lorry- "get an ambulance..."
3235 (Dec 79)- Christmas, but no festive spirit from Uncle Reg to Nurse Leonard who wants to date Alison. Meg and Jill go off to church, then a festive party with Meg singing a jolly seasonal song
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WEAVERS GREEN (Anglia)
An East Anglian saga of country vet Alan Armstrong (Grant Taylor) and his younger partner Geoffrey Toms (Eric Flynn). Armstrong is married to Dorothy, 'Dotty' (Megs Jenkins) and they have two children,
Mick (Kate O'Mara), training to be a vet at Cambridge, and Tim, currently at boarding school. Toms has married ex-deb Celia (Georgina Ward), and has moved to Weavers Green to try and get his wayward wife into a more mature attitude to life.
Other regulars included Mrs Vincent, Dotty's daily, and her husband, cowman Bert, Daniel Jessop (John Glyn-Jones) the local poacher and Sam Moneypenny the village bobby.
Well known actors in several stories included Susan George as Belinda Fielding, Edward Underdown as Bobby Brent, Michael Gough as Felix Cutler, Sheila Fearn as Sue Patterson, Dennis Waterman as Will Akers, Wendy Richard as Jean and Maurice Kaufmann as Derek Swan.
1 (7th April 1966) - A car speeding along a country lane. A sudden screech of brakes. "Holly where are you?" cries Hazel.
Weavers Green 72- the vet's surgery- Dr Armstrong is summoned to the scene where Hazel is berating the motorist Derek Swan. An injection eases the dog's pain and back in the surgery, x-rays are taken of the right femur. Hazel is comforted at the pub by the apologetic Swan, but she's really worried how her son Colin will react. She meets him off the school bus, and his reaction is sadly rather unconvincingly acted.
A separate sequence shows Armstrong's colleague Geoffrey Toms, who has been TB testing and has then called at an "amateur's" farm, where Langley's pigs are dying. "Will I lose any more?" he asks the vet anxiously. He's so upset he blames anyone and everyone.
Back at the surgery, young Milly is given a chance to help out: "not much pay, only three pounds ten," explains Dotty. Milly gets a tour and sees the slowly recovering Holly.
Colin cycles (on a girl's bike!) to be reunited with his pet, and Dr Armstrong explains to him that she has broken a leg which will be set in plaster, though it's possible that because she's been so shaken up, there may be other internal injuries......
48 (September 1966) -
A-racin' through the churchyard, be Miss Anastasia Patridge, with the startlin' noos that Samantha Dinwiddy has suddenly left the village for Scarborough. First to be treated to the information is old Daniel who's very pleased the old witch has gone.
Then there was this "nasty scene between Geoffrey and myself," recounts Jack, "just after the cricket match." It's all over Geoffrey Toms' wife Celia who Jack's getting a bit too fond of. Dr Armstrong acts as peacemaker and encourages Jack to explore the possibilities of test tube farming. (Well it must be better than an affair with Celia.)
Celia attempts to patch things up with Geoffrey: "I want to stay here with you," she urges, even though her secretarial business has not flourished. It's not an entirely amicable parting.
Arriving in his Rolls Royce, Bernard Haig brings an unusual patient, Cleo the leopard with her bad paw- "I picked her up in Africa."
Preparations are now complete for the return of the recuperating Dotty Armstrong. "She's a-comin'," cries Daniel. She's "still a bit weak," and is given a helpful resume by husband Alan of the series of late- "The Dinwiddys were killing dogs, Daniel was in jail, Geoffrey was furious with Royston, Maggie not knowing what had hit her, Milly was crying...." And PC Moneypenny has been like "that French detective Markwit" and sorted out Alan's problem, for now "the major charge has been dropped." So it all ends happily!
We leave them, with Dotty meeting Bernard, approving of him as a partner for Mick (Kate O'Mara) and Celia and Geoffrey are thrashing out their childlessness
Mr Frederick Dyson from Huddersfield won a newspaper prize of a trip to the Anglia studios for correctly predicting the story line for this final episode.
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The Forsyte Saga
BBC's elegant but rambling 1967 period soap opera with Kenneth More, Nyree Dawn Porter and Susan Hampshire.
Eric Porter was the constant star through the entire series, though for stealing the show, my award for a minor role goes to George Benson as the Marquis of Shropshire.
1. A Family Festival - "Oily bounder" Monty marries the "spendiferous" Winifred, whilst Jo ponders an ugly divorce
2. A Family Scandal - Jo realises he's "a parasite," and Soames first encounters the enchanting Irene
3. The Pursuit of Happiness - Frances dies, Juley finds a dog but Soames nearly loses Irene, though she finally consents to marriage, with one condition
4. Dinner at Swithin's - Jo's daughter June is happily engaged to Bosinney, but Irene is now very lukewarm towards Soames
5. The Man of Property - Soames gets Bosinney to design his house at Robin Hill and Jo is reconciled to his dad on the death of Aunt Ann
6. Decisions - Collapse of Soames' marriage, with all the better effect for focussing on this one storyline without so many subplots
7. Into the Dark - Irene hides in a small hotel, Soames though enjoys a triumph in the courts over Bosinney, who suddenly dies
8. Indian Summer of a Forsyte - Happy times at Robin Hill as Uncle Jolyon enjoys reconciliation with Irene. A fine gentle interlude
9. In Chancery - "A blessing" when Helene dies, according to her doctor. "Bounder" Monty leaves for a new life, while Soames ponders marriage
10. The Challenge - In court Winifred's divorce commences. Holly falls for "rotter" Val. Irene hides from Soames in Paris, and meets Jo there
11. In the Web - Are Jo and Irene, in modern parlance, an item? Soames believes so, and sues for divorce. Monty returns in poverty to Winifred
12. Birth of a Forsyte - Soames and Irene divorced, leading to marriages: Soames and Annette, Jo and Irene, then of course two babies are born
13. Encounter - Suddenly it's 1918, the two 'babies' Fleur and Jon secretly are in love, but casting a shadow are their feuding families
14. Conflict - Despite a rival in Michael, 'Cautious Cuthbert', Fleur's love for Jon only deepens as it takes for ever for her to learn of the family skeleton
15. To Let- In the worst moment of the series, almost comic, Jon, after an age, also learns all. Soames and Irene face up as Jon calls off the engagement
16. A Family Wedding - Fleur's marriage on the bounce to nice Michael, but soon she's toying with an affair with his best friend, Wilfrid, a poet
17. The White Monkey - Soames blows a balloon with his business about to burst. He gives Fleur a painting, while a painter discovers a new model
18. Afternoon of a Dryad - The series was gently fading as Wilfrid escapes to "Jericho," and Soames buys a nude
19. No Retreat - Fleur: "There's nothing wrong now except my own nature," as she gives birth. Soames resigns at a stormy shareholders' meeting
20. A Silent Wooing - In Carolina woods, Jon falls in love. Soames calls Fleur's enemy Marjorie a "traitress," and thus Fleur faces a libel suit
21. Action for Libel - "Fuss about nothing," as Soames attempts to cunningly rebuff Marjorie's action for libel, but Fleur is pretty shrewd too
22. The Silver Spoon - Under brilliant persistent questioning in court from Sir James, Marjorie has to yield, but the Mont's victory is hollow
23. Strike - Upper classes at play in the 1926 strike, perhaps the making of Fleur, though has her love for Jon revived? Soames has silent sight of Irene
24. Afternoon at Ascot - Lunchtime with Jon and Anne and then a box at the races as old memories and love revive
25. Portrait of Fleur - Restless, Fleur starts a rest home and has her portrait painted
26. Swan Song - No longer a butterfly, Fleur's "look back" with Jon is partly ended by Irene and partly by her carelessness, in which her father is felled
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Rather rashly, I'm starting here a listing of ATV's finest soap opera