I find time seems to be going past at its usual pace despite self-isolating for all these weeks. I have been catching up by viewing some DVDs that I purchased but have never watched. They range from Rumpole Of The Bailey, starring Leo McKern, to a classic Hollywood 1960s television series entitled Thriller, hosted by the great Boris Karloff.

I am also addicted to watching television shows like Pawn Stars and Air Crash Investigation, not to say old episodes of Porridge, the opening shot of which is the old prison in St Albans. The cast were superb and that they stand up so well over 40 years later is a testament to the writing and the acting. The only sadness is watching Richard Beckinsale, who became a household name with the series and Rising Damp but was to die at such a young age. Richard was apparently appalling at rehearsals but perfect when recorded in front of a live audience. He had that rare quality of being natural rather obviously acting. Spencer Tracy had that quality of realism, whereas I always thought somebody like Laurence Olivier did not.

Of course some stars only needed to be themselves in almost every film as that is what the public pay to see. For instance John Wayne had a limited range but justly became a screen legend. I met him on the set of one of his last films, which was a detective story based in London called Brannigan. This must be about 46 years ago! I was young then and it was a thrill. He was a big man. Three memories stick with me. Firstly he had a dry cough and I was not aware he had already lost one lung to cancer but was to die from it a few years later. Secondly he was having trouble with his toupee as I did not realise he was follically challenged. I later loved the put down he gave to a student at a university talk who shouted out "is that real hair". The Duke replied: "Yes it is, but it happens not to be mine."

In those days I used to like asking 'old people' for a life tip. Today I would say wake up breathing as a good start to the day but when you are young you are immortal and why not. I digress and his answer was "This is an old Hollywood saying but it applies to most of us. They start by saying 'who is Wayne' and then 'we must have Wayne'. Then as the time passes it becomes 'we need a Wayne type but younger' and finally 'who is Wayne?'

Not a lot of people know this but John Wayne visited Borehamwood to be a guest star at the old ATV Studios, now BBC Elstree Centre, on a Glenn Campbell television special.

Outside of Los Angeles I doubt anywhere in the world has seen so many stars visit to work as Borehamwood. You notice I say Los Angeles as technically most of their studios were never actually based in Hollywood itself. As for Borehamwood, the roll call is endless: from Buster Keaton to Cary Grant. From The Beatles to Take That and from Julie Andrews to Elton John. To name drop a few more, Clark Gable, Liz Taylor, Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. What about Boris Karloff, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and let us add in Vincent Price for an extra thrill.

As Chairman of Elstree Screen Heritage, a volunteer group, we continue to celebrate our unique heritage. Follow our efforts by visiting our website or Facebook page. Until next time, remember it will one day be possible for us to ramble down memory lane and for a walk around our heritage.

  • Paul Welsh is a Borehamwood writer and historian of Elstree Studios