Rugd1022 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Twice a year, a number of us who are on The Sweeney forum get together in Hammersmith and do an informal tour of locations used for filming The Sweeney between 1974 and 1978. This Sunday we were well chuffed to have along a pair of Ford Granadas, one of which is a dead ringer for the Mk1 used in some of the later episodes..... anyway, thought I'd post some pics as I know there are quite a few members on here who like their old TV shows and classic motors No bollards, small persons or general passers by were maimed to bits in the capturing of this lovely moment... very few Mk1 Granadas are left now, let alone any 3 litre Ghias as nice as this one... My old Rover 3500 posing in Colet Gardens, where the original title sequence was shot in 1974... On the way to the meet a couple of us popped into Paddington for a quick shuftie and some early morning photos... it was a bit surreal parking my car where once upon a time, I used to park 31s, 47s and 50s! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Watch out guv, e's got a shooter! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Excellent; when I scrolled down to that first B/W snap my eyes went all blue and the Rover came towards me in stop motion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted April 12, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 12, 2011 I really love the gentle eccentricity of the Brits. What a great way to spend a Sunday! Great pics by the way. Do any locals come and ask what ya up to boys? 36E Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 ...r of locations used for filming The Sweeney between 1974 and 1978. Now you are making me feel reallly old. Great pix. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted April 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 12, 2011 Excellent Nidge B) - wish I still had my old 2.0S Capri now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthelm Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Nidge, quick question how many episodes of the Sweeney did they use the old derelict Southall Gasworks as a location shoot? The reason I ask is I used to "play" in there as a kid and saw a shoot for the Professionals (The Purging of CI5) and I also managed to get Gordon Jacksons autograph which i still have (1979) a great man and sadly missed. Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Great stuff...... I've gone all misty eyed. I still catch the occassional episode on ITV4. A sadly missed show. G. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Chapman Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I can't get the theme tune out of my head now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I still catch the occassional episode on ITV4. ... and they still stand the test of time pretty well, I reckon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Thanks for your replies and comments chaps Andy Y - later on in the day one of the lads filmed all the old motors coming towards the camera just as you describe, hopefully he'll be editing it properly and putting it up on youtube or the Sweeney forum! Incidentally, the original Mk1 Consul (NHK 295M) used in those famous titles and many episodes belongs to one of the forum members, he's had it for something like 19 years and has almost finished it's full restoration. 36E - Yes we do get some funny looks and comments! By and large most people are quite interested and remember the programme and the cars. At this particular meet we went to a location in Twickenham which was used in the 1975 episode 'Poppy', as we were mooching about a lady came out of the cul-de-sac and got chatting about the cars (we were blocking her in!), it turned out she was the sister of the series producer Ted Childs, and this 'out of town' location was used simply because she lived there. (Most of the locations were in Central and West London as Euston Films were on a very tight schedule, as each episode was made in about ten days). At the last meeting back in October, we were photographing the cars in a mews location when one of the locals came out in just his underpants, wondering what was going on.... he perked up when we told him his house had appeared in the Sweeney! The guy who organises it really pulled out all the stops this weekend, he managed to persuade actor John Lyons to come along to the pub grub session we have at the end of each meet. For anyone who doesn't recognise the name, as well as playing two different characters in a Sweeney episode and one of the spin off films, John also played David Jason's sidekick George Toolan in Inspector Frost for seventeen years. He kept us entertained for about three hours with stories of working on The Sweeney, Frost and many other shows he appeared in. He told us all about filming the very last episode of Frost, there were three different endings and he wasn't told it would be 'his' ending used until the night it was broadcast. It was great hearing about how certain shows were cast back in the 60s and 70s, apparently he was originally cast as Private Jones in Dad's Army, but was replaced by Clive Dunn at the last minute when he became available. He was also originally cast as Jack in On The Buses but was replaced by Bob Grant due to the 35 year age gap between him and Reg Varney! A lovely chap and very easy going, very down to earth, he didn't mind posing for photos and signing autographs. For last year's meet, we were all set to have Garfield Morgan (Franks Haskins) as a guest, he'd written to confirm he was coming but sadly he was very ill and passed away before the due date arrived. A few more pics of the day.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Nidge, qvick question how many episodes of the Sweeney did they use the old derelict Southall Gasworks as a location shoot? The reason I ask is I used to play in there as a kid and saw a shoot for the Professionals (The Purging of CI5) and I also managed to get Gordon Jacksons autograph which i still have (1979) a great man and sadly missed. Matt At least twice Matt IIRC, possibly more..... the 1975 episode 'Faces' was partly filmed at Southall, there's even a quick glimpse of a blue Western passing by on the mainline. Can't remember the other episode but I'll find out . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave47549 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Excellent; when I scrolled down to that first B/W snap my eyes went all blue and the Rover came towards me in stop motion. I can't get the theme tune out of my head now! Complete with Thames tv opener!: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted April 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 12, 2011 You're Nicked Love it - great memories from watching this with my brother. I never could quite watch John Thaw playing Morse though as I was always waiting for him to burst into expletives... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I love the Sweeney. Glad to say I've also had all those Fords. Must go in the attic for some pics. Thanks for posting. Very nostalgic. That gold Ford Granada bears out what I've been saying for a long time....That it still looks modern today! It Sweeney were still being made, Reagan would have a Mondeo....Goddit! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugsley Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Top stuff Nidge! Seeing your V8 has made me all misty eyed - I had the opportunity to buy a white 1976 one, for what was actually quite a reasonable amount at the time, but didn't go for it. How I wish I had. I still watch the Sweeney regularly, it's still great to watch and has aged very well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Sidecar Racer Posted April 12, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 12, 2011 Seeing your V8 has made me all misty eyed - I had the opportunity to buy a white 1976 one, for what was actually quite a reasonable amount at the time, but didn't go for it. How I wish I had. Martin , if you had bought it you would'nt have any money to play trains with . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Wot? No flares or kipper ties? Jackets with lapels like an aircraft carrier's deck? Great stuff though. Congrats all round for such a harmless and British eccentricity. steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Congrats all round for such a harmless and British eccentricity. Don't the Americans do the Dukes of Hazard thing ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The Sweeney - Best cop TV series ever. Have em all on Betamax !!! (transfered to DVD as well) - The Lot Back in 1975, mates dad had a beautiful white Granada 3 litre Ghia Auto - black leather etc. On Sundays, after helping to clean & polish her he would take us up the M6 to Blackpool at 100mph for fish & chips !!. I allways hankered for one but bought an old 1973 Rover V8 P5B instead, another great car. You do not see many of either now, and good uns are rare & expensive. Cheap as chips 10-15 years ago. Yes, Mk1 Granadas / Consuls, White or the Golden metallic, superb cars they where in every respect. Over and out. Brit15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmann Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Back in 1975, mates dad had a beautiful white Granada 3 litre Ghia Auto - black leather etc Was it leather? Vinyl was popular in the 1970s....Ford's seats and roofs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Top stuff Nidge! Seeing your V8 has made me all misty eyed - I had the opportunity to buy a white 1976 one, for what was actually quite a reasonable amount at the time, but didn't go for it. How I wish I had. I still watch the Sweeney regularly, it's still great to watch and has aged very well. Pugs, the good thing about V8 P6s is there are still loads of them about. Granted, some may be pretty on the outside but rotten underneath (always an issue with P6s) but find a really good one and you'll not regret it. Prices vary considerably and even though they are on the up, you can still find a bargain. Here are some shots of DEG parked up at Lots Road Power Station before the meet (location used in the episode 'Money, Money, Money'), and for Coach, more gratuitous shots of that lovely Granada.... (Anyone seeking a fix of similar nostalgia should have a delve through the 'Now & Then' section of the Sweeney forum, I think most of the location pics are still in there... http://www.thetvloun...wforum.php?f=30 ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Coach - Certainly the roof was vinyl covered - I could swear the seats where leather - but time plays tricks with the memory. Acres of thick english leather in the Rover though. !!! Brit15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren01 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Well that was a blast from the past, was at this time in 1975 train spotting at Southall bridge ,boy they where good times, but was never allowed to see the Sweeney as it was on a bit late. The Sweeney is being shown on ITV4 ;Wednesday, 7:00PM on itv4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The Ghia might've had leather... Even as a kid in the 70's the Mk2 Granada was a real let-down in my eyes after the style of the Mk1 ... a bit like the M4 & 5 'Tinas after the iconic Mk3 B) .... The Mk2 Escort was the best-looking Escort in my opinion, though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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