4:3tv Meet 016 - Villain - 14th April 2024 Report Thread

[Sam Tyler]

You now how it is, the days drag by... more and more they drag... until... THE day finally arrives!

Then what happens? It bloody well flies by seemingly in an instant! Where did it go? Must have been a damn good day to fly by that quick!

Although I didn't join the other squad members for the Saturday festivities due to family commitments, THE day for me started with an easy drive up the M3 and through to Chiswick, park up for the day along Chiswick Mall (free parking in The Smoke? Who'd have thought it?) and a short wander to the George and Devonshire to meet the other squad members that were already loitering with intent. A good chat and catch-up after the last meet sees all looking fit and healthy and ready for the off - except Mickyosan's shoe of course which looked decidedly unhealthy with the flapping sole removed and resembling one of Lewis Hamilton's racing boots.

Pleasantries (few) and insults (many) over with and we were on our way for the location tour. First up was Vic Dakin's house and good to see that very little had changed, quite an impressive gaff but an absolute fortune in today's market. As ever the roads looking very narrow with today's cars present but appeared much wider back in the '70s. On to Bob Matthews' house and although still impressive it was relatively modest compared to Vic's, and still silly money in today's market considering the location.

Next was the trip to Bracknell and for me a journey back down the M3 that I'd not long driven up. Once in Bracknell though it was familiar territory for me as I used to drive down the very same roads that the blag and the fleeing Jag used when I worked in Bracknell back in the late '80s. I was oblivious to it at the time but seeing Peacock Lane and Ellesfield Avenue as it was in the film was how I remember my morning commute. The lunch stop at Peacock Farm was very welcome and a few pints of Guinness (cheers Gene, cheers Dirty) and some chips (thanks Saint) later we had the walk around the blag locations. Sadly the redevelopment for a housing estate off of Peacock Lane meant that that section of the road was near unrecognisable but at least the Peacock Farm was still in existence and could be seen in the screen grabs.

Blag locations complete and it was back in the car for the return to the smoke for the day's final locations. Edgar's house once again looked remarkably unchanged from the film and would certainly have taken some investment, perhaps it was the financial burden that played heavy on his ulcer... Next was the bridge location and a park up alongside allowing Gene to show us bonus image which was a publicity shot of Richard Burton outside the house alongside the bridge.

And there it was, another successful meet once again blessed with good weather and a fantastic selection of locations in the bag.

From there a couple of squad members made their way back home while the rest of us returned to the George and Devonshire before wandering towards Hammersmith for a meal - and what a great choice that location was too.

Sadly it was then time for me to make my way home but a relaxed drive back down the M3 yet again gave me the opportunity to reflect on another superb meet superbly engineered by Gene.

Thanks to all squad members for another well-humoured meet, the banter and general p***-taking is as superb as ever. Thanks to Carter for being our wheelman for the day and to The Saint and Gene for the banter within the car. But as ever the biggest thanks go to Gene for the organisation and planning involved behind the scenes and the meet itinerary to make the day what it was for us all to enjoy.

What a day, fantastic!

Sam.

[Villain]

Just a quickie before my Ovaltine boils over - an absolutely superb meet as usual and probably one of the most relaxed we've ever had, Gene's fabulous itinerary was easy to follow with the help of Mickyosan as my oppo, riding shotgun in the passenger seat. The locations were terrific with plenty to muse and reflect on but as said above, the streets looked so much tidier, wider and emptier way back in 1970! With 'Villain' being one of my top five favourite films it was great to finally do a 4 : 3 TV meet at last.

Some of the locations are already very familiar to me because of their proximity to the railway routes I work on, but it's always nice top see them on foot and compare them to how they looked in the film all those years ago. It's hard to believe that some of us visited them thirteen years ago back in 2011 - how time flies.

A huge thanks to Gene for making it all happen yet again  .

''WHO ARE YOU LOOKING AT...???''






Villain 

[Vienna]

It was - yet again - another top 4:3tv meet organised by forum guvnor Gene Hunt. A very relaxing one this time and it was also nice to visit some locations from what is a rather neglected gangster film from the early 1970s.

Gene very kindly offered to drive me, along with John Steed, down south on Saturday morning. We arrived in record time and soon met up with the usual suspects for banter and a few drinks at one of our favourite watering holes, The Dove in Hammersmith. More drinks flowed at other pubs as well as a large cod & chips at a well-known Sweeney location. Superb weather meant we were keen for some more... so in the evening it was off to The Black Lion and a nearby curry house for a nice Ruby Murray. 

After a lukewarm breakfast (cold sausages) at the hotel on the Sunday morning, everyone met up outside the George and Devonshire and we soon headed into the motors and departed for the first Villain location: Vic Dakin's gaff in Wandsworth. It was nice and quiet here. After visiting Bob Matthew's home in salubrious East Sheen, it was then time to head out to Bracknell to look at the blag scenes from the film and have a decent lunch break. It was interesting to walk about and see how things have changed since filming took place around the town in the autumn of 1970. This was the highlight of the day for me. We then headed east on the M4 back to the smoke and a couple more locations...

Unfortunately, it all goes by too fast and it wasn't long before some squad members headed home, although a few of us carried on with a few more bevvies and an evening meal. 

I would especially like to thank Brown Granada for driving me and Mr Steed safely around the Villain locations. Thanks also to John for his excellent company throughout the weekend. Thanks to Del Boy for the chip shop stop and to everyone who attended. As always, special thanks to Gene Hunt for letting me stay at his place overnight in the Black Country and driving me to and from the meet weekend. Gene puts so much time and efforts into these meets - simply brilliant! Thanks mate   

Hopefully another fab one on the way in October!

Cheers

Vi

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Evening all and hope you're all well! Sorry for being a bit late with sending my report through on the operation, but I got back late from a work business trip last night which was quite soon after our meet, and was recharging the batteries a bit!

So without even looking at the other members postings (which I look forward to reading in due course) I'll start afresh with my thoughts on this great weekend.

After making good time on the Saturday late morning despite the usual London traffic I arrived in plenty of time to drop my bag off and get the car parked before heading over to The Dove to meet up with the early birds from the group, and join them for the first drink. Always great to see 4:3 TV members again after the ensuing 6 months!

We enjoyed a few stop offs at a couple of different drinking establishments before it was late lunch time for a nice bit of chip shop fare at a familiar Sweeney location. The St Elmo's Fish and Chip bar used in The Sweeney ep, In from the Cold. No Billy Medhurst to ask if he would "Give us a chip" this time round but great to see the place still open and plying its trade with quality grub. There was an opportunity for a group smudge too which got the weekend off to a great start.

Later in the evening we found our previously used and recommended curry house for the evening meal, again quality fare and all afternoon and evening it was certainly a great time to catch up with old pals and discuss our favourite interests and look forward to the next day.

And the Guv as always had certainly done us proud again! We were off to retrace some of the steps the notorius Vic Dakin and his gang had made before;

Once we decided who was travelling in the motors we made our first port of call to Vic's House in London SW; still well looked after I'm glad to say and still has the same porch and front pillars although the railings have been changed but it really hadn't changed much.

Next we popped over to Bob Matthew's house where Tom Binney parked his MK1 Escort outside of - again a well kept and very lovely street and house itself which again hasn't changed much I thought.

Then we had a bit of a jaunt which really wasn't a too bad drive in the nice weather we were enjoying, to go out to Bracknell for our lunch and midday break to The Peacock Farm Inn. A nice establishment too with a good range of drinks and what looked like a decent meal served there. Nice to sit out in the midday sun (finally for the first lunchtime in 2024 for me) with a drink and mingle a bit more before getting ready for the next part of the meet locations and an important and memorable one too.....

The robbery scene; First the Guv took us to the layby where the gang ditch the Jag with a flat and blowing exhaust, and car jack the parked MK4 Zodiac to make their getaway. In the background according to the screen grabs, there was no roundabout at the time but a few of the farm buildings where we were for the pub, were around then although other houses have since sprung up in recent years.

Bit further on we were actually at the scene where the robbery punch up and car carnage was filmed. Standing on the spot where the telephone call box was where Vic and Terry pull up in the Jag to wait. Behind it you could see on the screengrabs or original film it was just fields back in 1970 but now there is a huge modern business site and complex although the building in the middle of being constructed at the time is now owned by Fujitsu.

Walking a bit further down we could see the roadbridge in the background that the security men's Vanden Plas Princess 3 litre emerged being chased by the silver MK4 Ford then the roundabout the blagger's car drove over partly and knocked over the chevron sign before cornering the VDP; So we then crossed the road and retraced some steps; The company building where the 2 young women emerged from on their lunch break has now changed totally to a large warehouse now, but we were there where it all kicked off at the time...........

Of course it didn't go 100% to plan for the gang and then alternative action was called for.........

We took a further slight walk back up to view another roundabout seen in the film, and was that keep left sign still the same one after all these years?? The buildings on the right turn were still there too.

By this time a few of us in the group needed a quick break (!) before we returned to the cars and made the trip back to West London.

We were now off to Edgar's house where the Police paid him a little visit by nightfall. Again like other locations and residential houses in this film, it was great to see it still looked after, with even the lanterns on the front door arch still there!

Finally we took in the final location in which was not too far away; The footbridge over the railway line where some of the gang along with Vic were dropped off in the Zodiac nearby; They make their way over it to get to Vic's waiting P5B Rover at the other end. The terraced houses are still there, although the buildings - probably the railway sheds (visible in the film to the right of the bridges steps) are now gone and the land, part of the park but not a lot has changed again.

Well cracking stuff and we rounded off the day with a great meal at a pukka establishment which we found purely by trial and we were glad we did too. It even turned out to be the street where a scene for an episode of "Only Fools and Horses" was partly filmed, which I remember; the one with the con man and duplicate ambulances if I remember rightly;

After one more pub visit it was soon time to head home for a few of us not stopping Sunday night, after saying our goodbyes; So here goes with the much appreciated thanks;

Firstly to our draughtsman and chief - The Guv, Gene Genie for the meticulous planning, original idea, route maps and screen grab printing, not to mention big thanks to Del for the "boozer route" and eating establishment locating - you do us all proud Guv and the highlight of April or October for me as ever - what can I say - a big round of applause once again!

Many thanks to Steve Austin and Peter Picard for company in the motor, the other wheelsmen of course for their transport - Vic Dakin himself, Carter, Brown Granada and Delboy (hope I've got all the motors covered there) and many thanks to each and every forum member who met us for the meet, whether it be starting the day or evening before or if you arrived just for the day - It doesn't matter as you were there to support the main event which was another superb meet and a great and much needed break from the norm.

I look forward to the October meet with huge anticipation! Cheers again 43:TV'ers!

[Carter]

Well another superb meeting of “The Small hand of Beadle “ appreciation society . 
I met with the Saturday gang in a boozer ……of course !!    Got down to discussion of the film the weekend was all about…..”Villain” 
A strangely cast film but I’m fonder of it since the meet and now need to do a BluRay watch . 
highlight of many superb places we visited on Saturday ( thanks Del)….was the chippy from The Sweeney ….. bloody delicious Guv.  And bleedin hot !!! 
Plenty of boll**** was talked and that’s what makes it such a laugh . 
Sunday was a great “Villain” location tour.  
Vics house was in a nice quiet road and with little change you could still feel the menace of Mr Daikin……luckily no spotting of him having a dabble with Lovejoy !!! 
other locations were just as interesting and the pub at lunchtime was the nuts !! 
Walking where the blag went on was a winner !!!     Great to see a lot of the route hadn’t changed ….it was a great bit of all in one filming and it’s like we were there !! 
a great day all round and a superb weekend !!
thanks Guv for all the graft in sorting another superb event . 
I know I don’t write the longest reports but what I will say is these meets are massive highlights in my year !!! 
it’s a pleasure to have become mates with such a quality crew !!! 
Miss the squad already …..roll on a nxt get together !!
Carter 

[Brown Granada]

Well I can't believe over a week has passed already but it has. Another brilliant meet has come and gone again in a blink of an eye, but yet another great outing for the squad. It started Saturday for me and after checking in to the hotel and meeting up with Carter in the reception we both set off to catch up with the others at the second pub on Dels brilliant boozer tour. The stop for chips at St Elmos was a great call, and then after we all burnt our mouths it was off again to more pubs. The curry in the evening was also good and relaxing with good food.
Sunday we met up with the rest of the squad after a hotel breakfast and then it was off to the locations. A little bit of driving between locations but the time flew by and we had a good lunch stop in Bracknell. It was great to see the blag scene and was probably my favourite location which hadn't changed too much and most of it was still recognisable and well worth the drive out. 
The day as usual was over too quick and after a meal with the squad that was left it was time to bid farewell and drive home.
Big thanks to Del for organising the boozer tour and chippy,  it was brilliant mate.
Big thanks to John Steed and Vienna for the banter and laughs in the car and for the navigation. Always a pleasure lads.
A massive thanks to Gene for putting this on for us as always and all the hard work that you put into these meets to make them what they are, we all appreciate it so much Guv and definitely the highlights of our year. Thanks again Guv.
Also it was great to catch up with everybody and have a good natter and a some good laughs over a few beers. Brilliant times with good people. 
So until next time take care each and see you soon.

BG.