DEEP JOY: HOLE IN ONE LOCATION TOUR

 “Are you all sitty comftybold two-square on your botty, then I’ll begin”

The Secret Service ‘Hole in One’ event took place this weekend, organised by enthusiastic Secret Service fan, Andrew Staton.

The primary reason was to visit Maidenhead Golf Club, the location used for the Secret Service episode, ‘ Hole in One’, which is soon to be levelled to make way for a new housing development.

As the Secret Service used that uneasy mix of real location footage and puppet sets, Century 21 also chose some other relatively nearby locations, which Andrew incorporated into the tour.

Generally speaking, Father Stanley Unwin is seen driving, Gabriel, his vintage 1917 Model T Ford in and out of ornate or imposing gates. He’s also shown walking up to or away from the various houses he is calling on, carrying his large ‘Antler’ case containing his miniaturised secret service action man, Matthew Harding.

Some of these locations are private houses, and Andrew went to great lengths to contact the owners to allow the attendees access.

Father Unwin’s church is an obvious starting point. As far as I’m aware it’s not actually named in the series, but in reality it’s St Michael and All Angels, Hughenden, High Wycombe. This isn’t a private location, although access is obviously limited during weddings and funerals!

The next well known location is Father Unwin’s Vicarage, which is very much a private residence. However, Andrew was granted limited access by the owner so the attendees to take numerous pictures of the ‘window’.

In reality, the Vicarage is Foxlea Manor in Burnham.

Another recently discovered location is Sheepcote Manor, again a private residence, and also situated in High Wycombe. This large imposing house was used in the episode, The Deadly Whisper.

Father Unwin is seen parking Gabriel and walking up to the large front door from a high camera angle. The picture may have been taken from the adjoining building which is a separate residence we didn’t have access to, but the Sheepcote Manor owner very kindly allowed me to take a photo of the assembled attendees in the courtyard below from a first floor window.

Here’s former Century 21 special effects man, Alan Shubrook, and his wife Bridget, chatting to the owner. Alan and Bridget were guests at the event.

Another location used in many films and TV series is Hall Barn, an historic country house. It was used in the Secret Service episode, To Catch A Spy.

The house, which is not normally open to the public was actually altered under the fifth Lord Burnham to make it smaller in 1969. However the original look can still be seen in the episode.

These are the gates to Hall Barn, seen in the Secret Service episode.

We were escorted into the grounds by the Hon Mrs Jenefer Farncombe, who lives in Hall Barn, and the daughter of the fifth Lord Burnham.

During our visit Andrew, along with Fanderson chairman, Nick Williams presented Mrs Farncombe with a copy of the Fanderson Secret Service annual.

The Hon Mrs Farncombe with Alan Shubrook.

This private house in Gerrard’s Cross was seen in the episode. The Feathered Spies, and at the time of filming was apparently the home of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson.

It has been altered since the episode was filmed but it still easily recognizable.

This is the distinctive building that is part of Wexham Park Hospital, in Slough, and visited by Father Unwin in the episode, School for Spies.

As I mentioned earlier, Gabriel is seen entering or leaving various gates throughout the series. Some still exist, hardly altered, others are simply the position of the originals.

This entrance to the private Oakley Court Hotel was used as the dilapidated entry into Lord Hazlewell’s dilapidated residence in the episode, More Haste, Less Speed. At the time of filming Oakley Court was actually largely derelict, and had previously been the home of Hammer Films in 1949, before they established Bray Studios next door.

Sadly, the entrance was all I was able to photograph as we weren’t allowed access to the hotel for additional photos ,which was a real shame as the original Oakley Court hotel has a rich history for film buffs. Apart from many of the Hammer films like The Reptile and Dracula, it was also home to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, The House in Nightmare Park, St Trinians, and Half a Sixpence to name but a few.

The restored and reinvented Oakley Court Hotel opened in 1981.

Another set of gates seen in the episode, To Catch a Spy. This impressive entrance is actually the way into Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire, and has a further Anderson connection, as it was also used as the entrance to Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward’s mansion in the much maligned 2004 Thunderbirds film.

As I mentioned earlier, Maidenhead Golf Club featured in the Secret Service episode, ‘Hole in One’

Unfortunately the clubhouse seen in the episode has been replaced by a more modern building, although the Golf Pro shop is much the same, .Unsurprisingly, we weren’t allowed onto the course.

The entrance gates showing ‘Leyland Golf Course’, are actually in a different location in Heathfield Road, Taplow.

The Golf Club played host to the event.

Alan Shubrook settling back, ready to be interviewed by Ian Fryer.

 

Apart from guest Alan Shubrook, and his wife Bridget, we enjoyed a live zoom call with voice artist and actor, Keith Alexander along with recently recorded interviews with voice artist and actor, Gary Files, puppeteer Mary Turner, and director, Alan Perry.

Keith Alexander

Alan Perry

Mary Turner

Gary Files

Some replicas of the Secret Service props and puppets, built by Vaughan Herriott.

Here are a couple of other locations which were included  that I haven't mentioned.

Below: Abbey Park Farm, Burnham, used in More Haste, Less Speed.

Below: Windsor End, Beaconsfield seen in May-Day, May-Day!

It had been intended to display the full size Gabriel but sadly, due to last minute logistical reasons it  couldn’t make it.!