4:3tv Meet 012 - Randall & Hopkirk - 3rd April 2022 - Report

[Gene Hunt]

Post your thoughts and photos here 

Gene.

[Deleted]

Another great meet wasn’t it! But it always is isn’t it! 
After watching R and H I’m a big fan now, but saying that, I used to watch it as a kid in the 70s when I would visit my uncles house, because he always liked it. I just love 60s tv series. Thanks Gene for organising al this what must have been ridiculously hard to put all together given the fact the amount of driving involved and the distance between each locations. The only downside of the meet was it seemed to go way to quickly, much more than previous meets! but hey what can ya do. It was so great to see all the squad again though and I really missed seeing ya all! 
can’t get the theme tune of Randal & Hopkirk out of my head, and the little video of the locations with the theme tune playing what G’ did is getting played quiet regularly lol!
it’s just a great theme tune, which reminds me of the theme tune to Regan! It’s very similar, also about three quarters in, there’s a section of it that sounds like The increase file! What more could ya ask for 

[Villain]

Just a quickie - one word for yesterday's 'R&H' meet - superb!!!

Gene & co in Richard's Mini - apologies for not saying thanks and tara a bit before I left the last location, you all shot off in the fume filled Mini before I had the chance, anyway we managed to sort out who needed a lift back to the Civic Centre before I had to get back home.

I did just over 300 miles in the motor by the time I'd got back - what a fantastic day all round, great organisation as ever, superb locations and a chance to see some other nice little corners of the home counties en route. Denham was a little dreamlike in some respects and Latimer looked like a ready made film set. With my three passengers Steve, Alan and Mark keeping me pointed in the right direction it was yet another classic meet. We enjoyed some cracking banter in The Orange Tree, chinwagging about our favourite TV shows, films and music with some nice childhood memories thrown in. Steve's local knowledge around some of the locations was nice to hear too.

A big thanks also to The Saint for showing me his beautiful Bentley before we all convened back at the Civic Centre in Elstree to start the meet proper  .

Looking forward to reading everyone else's reports and seeing some great smudges.

Villain,
News At Ten,
Somewhere slightly dreamlike! 

[Steve Austin]

Well another fantastic weekend with The Squad touring the home counties on the trail of Randall & Hopkirk, Deceased.  Even the weather decided to relax and let the technicolour goodness of 1969 shine through.

As is usual with this new format of meet, Satuday was a day for a few slurps and a catch up (including a bonus film location), followed by a lovely meal in The Saint's local turkish (sure there's a joke in there somehwere) and very nice it was too.  Thanks to Gene for organising and the lift and for The Saint for a look at his superb period 1960's pad.

On to the big day and after a big breakfast (thanks to Candy Girl & Get Carter for the lift) we were off into ITC land courtesy of Carter, joined admirably by Brown Granada and a hammer, don't ask.  Mile after mile across counties, fantastic locations were abound.  Most of which had changed little since the very late sixties, only the abundance of the modern car & lyrca clad cyclists told you we were firmly in the 21st century.

After a well deserved break on the trail of Liz Fraser we set off on the final leg of the tour, finishing with a pot of tea at a Nun's retreat to reflect on another expertly draughted meet.  

These meets keep getting better and thanks must go to Gene for continuing to come up with new subject matter and maintaing the high standards we have come to enjoy so much over the last few years.  Thanks again Gene, hope you're enjoying a well deserved rest. 

Thanks also to Windy for the driving on Saturday, even if we don't agree on the best album of the 90s   and for Villain & DC Burtonshaw for getting me back to the hotel.

Thanks for Carter, our wheelman on Sunday, Brown Granada for your great company throughout, Candygirl for the excellent location booklets and to the rest of the squad for the great vibes and bonhomie throughout the weekend.

Here's to the next one 

[Dirty Epic]

I'll do a proper thread soon but once again a brilliant, brilliant weekend from start to finish.

Big big thanks to Gene for putting it all together so well once again you're the best mate.

[Peter Picard]

The 12th 4:3 meet, Randall & Hopkirk, was centered mostly around rural Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire with many of the locations being typically traditional villages unchanged for decades and huge manor houses.

What a contrast this was from meet 11, Life On Mars, around the inner city back streets of Manchester.

As usual for the Squad the weather stayed dry and for a lot of the time sunny.

It was great meeting up with everyone again for what was a really enjoyable weekend. Thanks Gene for all the effort organising it, everything ran smoothly as always. Cheers Vi for navigating the mean streets of Herts, and to Charles Bronson and Windy Miller for their company in the motor, and all the squad members for making it a really good meet.

[Windy Miller]

Tremendous thanks to Gene for curating another epic Meet     
The combination of great organisation and management, locations from long ago revisited in the 21st century, amicable company, and a sufficient number of refreshments stops proved once again to be a winner. The Randall & Hopkirk locations were all superb, in particular The Orange Tree which served an exceptionally refreshing pint of Aspall.

Saturday started well, meeting up with Charles Bronson and Vienna for breakfast before heading down the motorway to South Mimms (thanks for the company there and back lads which made the miles fly by). Thanks also to The Saint for the lift to the restaurant that evening, and to Gene for getting me back to the hotel. Great choice of restaurant btw Saint – I really enjoyed that meal 

Sunday was a top quality day from start to finish. Great locations and great banter along the way at a nice gentle and relaxing pace too. Big thanks to Peter Picard for being wheelsman for the day and making the driving look completely stress less. Thanks also to Vienna for faultless navigation to each location.

In addition, I'd like to thank everyone who attended the weekend and collectively made the Meet the amazing experience that it was.

Already looking forward to the next meet.

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Well what can I say??! Another enjoyable and tremendously enjoyable 4:3 TV Meet, meticulously and faultlessly organised by Gene, - many thanks as ever Guv!! I arrived on the Sunday morning and after meeting Sam, and Villain in the car park, we then took the short walk to the 'Spoons to meet up with other squad members, for a fine brekkie and catch up before the meet commenced proper!

After sorting out drivers and passengers, we set off in Villain's smart new motor, being joined by Dirty Epic and Stan, and we were able to start the tour. First off was the very picturesque village of Latimer for The Duke of Cumberland, which was an idyllic location and very pleasant too, much of which hadn't changed, apart from the several modern cars about and modern day cyclists. It was so nice to see that the monument, old water trough and houses have been well looked after, after all this time.

Then on to what was Crake village, which was yet another picturesque location, which together with the Sunny weather which had arrived, helped to bring out the atmosphere. Good always to compare locations, like for like in the book pictures, with being there and seeing what's changed. You don't get many places these days with 2 pubs almost next door to each other and still open today!

We then had a very welcome and relaxing stop for lunch and drinks at The Orange Tree, Totteridge, and for a great catch up with banter, and chat whether it was about Randall and Hopkirk, any other TV shows we love, stories from the past, old cars, sport, any other interests and life in general. Very pleasant service and a sample of the food too, well recommended!

After a nice long break, it was onto the afternoon locations. We soon arrived at where the Cavallo Smith residence was, to view this area. What a long and initially steep street that is, with a curious blend of of modernised houses and more traditional ones.

Then after a quick stop off to the war memorial that De Crecy drives past in "But what a sweet little room", -it was off to play catch up, to see the Well End Cottage, seen in the background when the limousine drives past in the later part of "A Sentimental Journey" - but rather sad to see the condition it is in now.

We then stopped off a for either a nice cuppa or coffee or pint (whichever you fancy!) at the Exquisite Grim's Dyke Hotel in Harrow Weald, used for the Winchester Electronics factory masquerading as the St Ursula's convent. The gardens and location have to be seen to be believed!

After a few people were making plans to head home, some members bid their farewells, and those who wanted to stay for the meal at The Battle Axe along with those also stopping the Sunday night at the hotel, moved on to there next for one last further enjoyable conversation and a great value meal.

So once again a big hand to the the Guv for his organisation of the meet and he certainly never fails us - considering the pre-planning involved too - all very much appreciated - it must take some doing!!

Each and every one of the forum members for attending, great to see you all again and not to mention Villain for the patient driving, (and for dropping me back to the Civic centre car park - which in turn enabled me to drop Steve Austin back to the hotel so he could pick up his car and make tracks) and good company along with Stan and DE.

A great day out and looking forward hopefully to the next meet!

[John Steed]

What an absolutely superb weekend from start to finish!
On arrival at South Mimms it was a brisk walk to The Old Guinea for a Saturday lunchtime pint and a catch up with a few squad members. After that we headed over to The Manor at Elstree which is a lovely relaxing place for a coffee or beer. Saturday evening we headed to a Turkish restaurant recommended by The Saint which was absolutely first class ... good call Mr Templar!
On Sunday morning the weather was very good as we visited some beautiful and largely unchanged locations. The morning fled past and it was soon time for a lunch break. The Orange Tree is one of the very best Sunday Lunch stops that we have visited in all of the years of the meets ... The Aspall Cider was a perfect pint and the Rustic chips were lovely ( I couldn't have cooked them much better myself!). After a few more locations we called in at The Grim's Dyke Hotel for a quick stop before heading to The Battle Axes pub for our evening meal which was also very nicely cooked. Once back at the Hotel we had time for a last drink and reflected on what a great weekend it had been. The only down side is that it went far too fast!
A huge thanks to Gene Hunt for all of the hard work and planning that went into organizing the meet. Thanks also Guv for the lift there and back in your beautiful Audi Quattro. Thanks also to Candy Girl for driving us around the locations and thanks also to Candy Girl and Get Carter for the banter in the car. Thanks also to each and every member who attended the meet and collectively made it the fantastic weekend that it was.
Cheers all!!!


Steed

[Vienna]

Yes, and I know I keep repeating it, but it was yet another fantastic meet organised by forum guvnor Gene Hunt, and it was possibly the most relaxing one thus far. It's always so nice to meet up with everyone for beer and banter at these 4:3tv events! 

As per usual I met up with Windy Miller and Charles Bronson in Crewe (Cheshire) and, after a nice brekkie there, Windy carefully drove us down to Hertfordshire to meet some of the Saturday regulars for a jar or two. We went to The Old Guinea and The Manor before we checked into the hotel for a wash and brush up. In the evening Candy Girl very kindly drove me and John Steed to a Turkish restaurant to meet the others for a tasty meal and a couple of lagers. Then back to the hotel...

On the Sunday morning we then met up with the rest of the squad in Borehamwood (after breakfast) to start the Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) locations tour. The two in the morning were both in Bucks and included my favourite: The Duke of Cumberland inn, which was actually a post office at the time of filming. Some lovely locations also in Denham, where the late Sir John Mills lived for many years. We then headed to The Orange Tree in Totteridge on the outskirts of London for a liquid lunch, although I also opted for a nice Sunday roast. Some more great locations followed in the afternoon - this time in Herts - before we headed to the much used horror film/TV location, the Grims Dyke hotel in Middlesex, for a relaxing drink and a chat. After a nice dinner at the Battle Axes it was time to go back to the hotel for a nightcap. Unfortunately, some squad members had already disappeared so I didn't get the chance to say goodbye. Never mind, eh? 

There was a bit more driving on this meet than in previous events so special thanks to our driver for the day, Peter Picard, who drove me, Windy and Charles around all in a very professional manner. At least my phone was properly charged up this time so there were no issues with the Google sat-nav! Thanks also to Windy Miller for driving me and Charles Bronson to and from the meet and to everyone who attended and made it such an enjoyable occasion. Thanks also to Candy Girl and Get Carter for giving me and Mr Steed a lift on the Saturday evening and also for booking the meals, along with Stan and The Saint. Special thanks of course reserved for Gene who puts in so much time and effort into these events whenever and wherever they happen to take place. Nice one mate! 

It was really great to meet everyone again and hopefully there will be many more meets to look forward to in the not too distant future...   

Cheers

Vi