In 1968 a man named Jimmy Perry had an idea for
a new television sitcom.
It consisted of a Home Guard Unit doing their duty
for England during the Second World War, set in the fictional seaside
town of Walmington-on-Sea.
Jimmy put his idea to 大象传媒 producer David Croft
and asked him if he would look over it and give Jimmy some feedback.
David read through what Jimmy had done and liked
the idea very much. They went about making the sitcom with the blessing
of 大象传媒 head of comedy Michael Mills. Mills came up with the idea
of calling the show Dad's Army.
Ian Lavender (right) was one of the stars who came along to
the event. |
On Sunday 9 May 2004 my
family and I went along to Bressingham Steam Museum in Norfolk for
the Dad's Army Day.
However, this particular day was called the Croft
And Perry Day where we would get to meet some of the stars from
other Croft and Perry shows.
We arrived at Bressingham and saw some of the stars
arrive, some were already there.
The stars were due to do an autograph session for
45 minutes when they would come out onto a stage in front of the
large audience and relive memories from the days of making the shows.
My dad and I were in a long queue of people waiting
to get books and various posters signed by the stars while my mum
saved us seats in front of the stage.
Then I got my chance to get my posters and books
autographed by the stars. It was a truly brilliant experience to
meet all the great actors and actresses that starred in my favourite
shows.
As I moved along the long line of stars they all
took the time to have a little chat with me.
Jimmy Perry asked me various questions about his
book that I was getting signed by him.
Each of the stars relived memories about their
parts in the different Croft and Perry shows.
Jimmy Perry recounted great memories of Arthur
Lowe and Ian Lavender re-enacted the best Dad's Army moment, Don't
Tell Him Pike from the episode The Deadly Attachment with Michael
Knowles.
This was the best part of the day for me. After
an hour-and-a-half of funny stories the stars went back to sign
more autographs.
David Croft was signing copies of his new book,
You Have Been Watching.
I had my photograph taken with him and we got to
have a chat with David about the Dad's Army lost episodes - he said
the film had probably been re-used for something else.
At 3pm the stars departed on a train which would
take them to their cars.
What a day it was: meeting the people that continue
to put a smile on my face every time I watch a Croft and Perry show.
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