| PHOTOS: Our
photographs show the Summer Wine stars posing for press photographs
as they arrive at the Picturedrome. The first shots show Nora trying
to play a trumpet belonging to the brass band, who were playing so
well outside the cinema. This is followed by a line-up consisting of
Nora, Tom Owen, writer Roy Clarke and Clegg. Later pictures show
them in the Picturedrome projection room, having a sneak preview
before the evening got underway. The other shots show them looking
at a Bamforth’s postcard poster when the caption could say “Ooooh.
Look at these cheeky pictures! It was never like this in Summer
Wine!”
Stars from BBC TV’s Last of the
Summer Wine flocked to the Picturedrome cinema in Holmfirth for a
moving tribute night to Compo, who died last July aged 85. Holmfirth
Web is proud to be the first to bring you a report and selection of
special photographs from the unique occasion, which was organised
following a request by Holme Valley Business Association. The BBC
agreed to the special preview of three episodes dealing with the sad
death of Compo, played by Bill Owen, in recognition of his close
links with the people of Holmfirth. As the Clifton and Lightcliffe
Brass Band performed outside, a specially invited audience made
their way into the cinema for this unique occasion.
Last of the Summer Wine has been
filmed in the town since the early 1970s, and is the longest running
BBC comedy series. Much of the planning of the special night was by
HVBA member Andrew Bray, who had a close friendship with Bill Owen.
Among the special guests on the night was writer Roy Clarke and
several members of the cast including Kathy Staff (Nora Batty),
Gordon Wharmby and Tom Owen – the real life son of Bill who
becomes Compo’s son in the next series, due for transmission from
April, 2000. The preview was introduced by director Alan Bell and
consisted of two excerpts and three complete episodes, which are
detailed below. The new star, Tom, is already a fan of Holmfirth Web
and has agreed to help publicise the popular web site this year!
SPEAKERS
Before the films were shown, Kathy
Staff paid tribute to the actor, Bill Owen. She said: “One of the
sad things was that he died on my actual birthday. In the first
episode of the new series, he is seen at the window asking if it’s
my birthday. When I say “not yet” he offers to come in and wait!
“It seems so sad that in the series he spent all that time trying
to find out when my birthday was, and then he actually died on my
real birthday.” Kathy said the demise of Compo was handled very
sensitively in the series. “There are bits that will make you cry
– and bits to make you laugh. That is a tribute to writer Roy
Clarke.”
The final speech was made by Peter
Sallis (Clegg) who said he could not get over the way the town of
Holmfirth had been transformed. “When we first started filming
here in 1972, you could not get a hot meal in the evening. Now, you
can take your pick from at least 24 different places – I never
would have believed there could be such a change in 28 years.
“And this cinema! Who would have
believed that Holmfirth would have such a lovely cinema again. I
would personally like to take this opportunity to thank everyone
behind the Picturedrome venture.
“This is a cinema 'paradiso'
Yorkshire style. Well done””
EPISODES
Though seriously ill, Bill completed
the filming for three episodes of the new series. Writer Roy Clarke
shows how the other characters cope with his death and the funeral.
The other four episodes feature Compo’s real-life son Tom Owen.
Filming is due to start again this Spring for the 2001 series!
The unique evening started with a
short excerpt from Episode One “Lipstick and Other Problems” in
which Compo gives one of his final performances with Kathy Staff,
including the through-the-window reference to her birthday. This was
shot in Holmfirth last Spring and is featured in our “on location”
photos in the Summer Wine section.
Next was Episode Four “Elegy to
Fallen Wellies”. Nora Batty gives showbusiness a twirl on stage
– and it was said to be the flash of Nora’s tights which
resulted in Compo taking a turn for the worse. She tried the kiss of
life, but he asked her to stop…saying he wanted to wait for
another kiss when he was feeling better! There is a lovely scene of
Clegg and Truly hailing a farewell to Compo in the beautiful Pennine
hills, above Holmfirth.
Episode Five “Surprise at
Throstlenest”. Clegg and Truly discover that Compo has bequeathed
his beloved ferrets to a mystery friend, whom he used to visit on
his bike every Thursday. His friend lives at Throstlenest Farm,
along the winding country lanes from the Crossroads pub, above
Shepley. We see the characters (and ferrets!) driving to the pub in
a Land Rover, asking for directions to the mystery farm. But who is
the strange lady?
Episode Six “Just a Small Funeral”
. The sad day arrives and Compo’s friends come to pay their
respects. But will Mrs Birkenshaw, church organist, play at the
funeral? She has never got over “that incident” when she was
cornered by Compo some years ago!
The tribute evening finished with a
brief extract from Episode Seven “From Here to Paternity, in which
it falls to Clegg to tell Compo’s son, Tom Owen, that his father
has died.
COMING SOON – Exclusive
interview with producer Alan J.W.Bell and people in Holmfirth
involved with the filming! |
