Hello to my long suffering readers, whether it is via the printed newspapers or the internet. I hope you are all kicking, or at least alive, as I have yet to write my column via seances, but who knows?

This week I am looking back to what was filming at Elstree Studios in the year I started this series of articles. The studio was much larger then with a frontage along Shenley Road. When Elstree was first built in the 1920s it had a frontage of lawns but after it was remodelled following the Second World War they were replaced by a white administration building. That is the way I would enter in those days and be met at reception on the way to interview a star or visit a film set.

At that time low budget movies still welcomed journalists eager for any free publicity but major films like The Shining were closed to visitors. Today that is the norm so I hardly ever visit productions while shooting anymore. Do I miss it ? Well yes and no. To be honest I don't really know many of the stars or directors and I have no time for reality celebrities.

I digress, so back 41 years as we yet again walk together down Memory Lane. At the time Elstree was home to some low budget but popular comedy films and I remember visiting the sets of Confessions From A Holiday Camp and the film version of Are You Being Served? The unit publicists would make sure I got to see some filming, chat to the stars and go away with about 20 black and white photos from which I would select one to illustrate my article. One of these films was called Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse and was cashing in on that old seaside postcard humour which I doubt is politically correct today. I will not comment on that trend. It was rather a shame to find veteran comedian Arthur Askey as a guest star but I guess a few hundred quid was worth it. We had a nice chat on set as I did with another comedy actor, the late Bob Todd. You may remember him as the sidekick of Benny Hill in those television series we must not mention.

A big Hollywood name was at the studio filming The Greek Tycoon. He was Anthony Quinn. A nice man and I have kept the photo he signed for me with the message 'keep smiling' as he thought I was too serious looking.

I think I have told the story of my encounter with Harrison Ford on the backlot late one night so I will leave that for another day. Of course in those days he was not the big star as of recent times but I like to think of him as a true Elstree veteran, remembering the original Star Wars and Indiana Jones trilogies.

Another long forgotten television movie made for American television was called Spectre. I seem to recall it was a supernatural thriller with a good cast including two Hollywood imports in the shape of leading man Robert Culp and Oscar-winning veteran Gig Young. Alas the latter had a tragic end. Gig was an alcoholic and one day he shot his young wife and then turned the gun on himself. Fame and fortune is not always the giver of happiness that we might think.

I miss the old Elstree Studios but that is just me being nostalgic for a time gone by. However, I am very proud of the phoenix that has arisen from the ashes and is such a success today being home, as always, to great television shows and fine movies. We must salute the past but not live in it. Until next time take care as I must head back into my garden and enjoy the sun. Remember, it will soon be the longest day!