4:3tv Meet 013 - Spring & Port Wine - 2nd Oct 2022 - Report

[Gene Hunt]

Post your comments and photos from the Spring & Port Wine Meet here.

Gene.

[Lord Emsworth]

Sorry to have missed it

Sure you all had a blast

[Dirty Epic]

I'll put together a proper post in the next few days or so but just wanted to say it was a brilliant weekend and massive thanks again to Gene for putting it all together much appreciated mate.

Thanks too to everyone for the great laughs and banter over the weekend too top stuff.

[Windy Miller]

There was nothing luckless about the 13th 4:3tv Meet which once again produced an epic weekend of Spring and Port Wine location spotting, blessed by fine weather for our grand day out.

Huge thanks go to Gene for organising the Weekend, which was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The graft involved to make things run as smoothly as they do is very much appreciated and doesn't go unnoticed.

Having Bernie Smidowicz and his lovely wife Pauline joining us on the Meet made things that little bit more special, and it was a privilege to be able to listen to his anecdotes and comments about his involvement in the film. The opportunity to re-enact Bernie's part in the film at the actual location on Grisdale Road was something very memorable and I'm glad the owners of the property allowed us to do it.
Thanks Bernie for taking the time out to join us on this day 👍

The inclusion of a visit to Fred Dibnah’s statue, grave and house was a bonus to the day as well.

For the afternoon bit that involved the cars, thanks go to Peter Pickard for perfect driving, and to Vienna for nonpareil navigation. 

Finally, thanks to everybody who attends these Meets. It's evident from the easy conversations, banter and general casual vibe that everyone gets along well and had great time too. 4:3tv really is a great community and a truly special place on the 'net.

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Well what can I say?! Another splendid and always enjoyable 4:3 TV Meet has passed all too soon. Firstly huge thanks and a big hand go to Gene, for the organising and planning and research for the meet which is imperative if it's all going to run like clockwork - which it did!

I arrived at Bolton at 3:15 PM finally (after the traffic delays), and once established, it was great to meet up and catch up with our fellow forumites and along with a couple of jars and a bite to eat out later that evening.

So after the 9:30 am start and convening outside the Bolton town hall, we were soon joined by Bernard Smidowicz and his lovely wife Pauline, who were great company to have with us and were able to give some further insights and anecdotes about the area and the film itself. A special Thank you to them for giving up their spare time to join us.

After a brief stop at Fred Dibnah's statue, in the Square, we were off to our morning locations of the street and driving scenes where we variously saw the street driving route, Arthur Gasket takes in his yellow Land Rover; again there are the expected changes but great to see so much that hasn't. Then a stop off at Fred Dibnah's old house, which I quite enjoyed seeing and having a look round, with the familiar back yard, front of the house and his workshop and garage, where his old Steam Traction Engine was once garaged.

Then a visit to his grave where we paid our respects before moving to the next locations.

A lunchtime stop off at the historic location that was the Ye Old Man and Scythe, "rebuilt" in 1616, was welcome for a pie and a pint of ale, before it was time to move to the next location where after passing Fred's local, we viewed the steep hill where Daisy Crompton ran down, and later Rafe was trying to find her. Looked all too easy to fall down if you went too fast I agree but more overgrown now than then.

After collecting the motors, it was time to view the afternoon locations. Firstly Arthur Gasket's house, then the "Pie Crust" park bench semi circular platform, which was part of Queen's park where Hilda and Ned meet, which is a big and very picturesque park. With the added sunshine it was most pleasant.

After that it was then time to see one of the much anticipated locations; The Crompton's house, street and the neighbouring houses. The house itself has had a few changes but is basically still there and the area is recognisable along with the next street accessable from the alleyway, where we see Wilfred going past on his scooter with Hilda. And a few steps down the road, the location where the red Escort TV rental van turns right on the way to the Duckworth's house.

Many thanks to the current occupier's of the Crompton House for letting use the front porch for a re-enactment of the coat delivery, with Bernard reprising his role even! No Mini van but even so - Fantastic!

Then the final locations which were the canal scenes near the end of the film; Interesting that there was no longer a canal even by 1969, and now it's all undergrowth but interesting again to see where filming took place, where the canal towpath where Harold rides past on his bike. Then the pathway where Daisy took, and finally the bridge she stood under, where it could have all ended so badly, if Rafe hadn't got there on time.

Well after saying a very much appreciated thank you to Bernard and Pauline and wishing them a well and a couple of the forum members who were heading home early, we had a final reconvene at a good restaurant at Manchester before turning in for a (late...) nightcap and calling it a night.

So, many thanks to for everyone attending too, always great to see all of you and to catch up and I certainly enjoy the sight seeing, new locations and discovering a film production and viewing where it was filmed.

Nice one and final thanks to Gene and all involved!

[Vienna]

It was yet again another fantastic weekend meet organised by forum guvnor Gene Hunt (I keep saying this but it's true) - and it was nice for me to have a weekend off for once! 

On this occasion I had to travel up to Bolton on the Friday evening as there was another rail strike, but at least I was first to arrive this time around.   I eventually met up with several 4:3tv members on the Saturday afternoon in town for a few jars at the local Wetherspoons, but we soon headed back to the hotel to check-in and have a wash and brush-up. We then decided on Manchester as a better place for a couple of drinks and a meal before a relatively early night. I was pretty knackered after a lot of walking around Bolton during the day before meeting up. 

On a sunny Sunday morning, after a brekkie at the local spoons, we met up with Peter Picard, Bernie Smidowicz (who had a small part in the film) and his wife outside the rather impressive town hall before starting out on the walking tour of Spring and Port Wine locations. It is interesting to see how much has changed since filming back in 1969, particularly the area where the major A666 road now runs through. Also included was a special visit to the resting place and nearby former house of legendary Boltonian steeplejack, Fred Dibnah. After a pie and a pint or two at 'Ye Olde Man & Scythe' in town it was time for the driving part of the meet. Here we visited the two best locations, IMO: the Crompton family home and the canal scenes, which were really superb. The re-enactment of Bernie's scene outside the house was very enjoyable too. It was then back to the hotel before another evening out and somewhat late drinks at the Holiday Inn bar.

Sadly, it was over too quickly! I would like to thank Peter Picard for driving me, Windy Miller and Brown Granada around the various locations in the afternoon. Thanks also to everyone who attended for the banter and company, along with the lovely Bernie and Pauline, who made it an even better day for all of us. Thanks also to The Saint for booking our taxi on both Saturday and Sunday evening. Special thanks, as always, goes to Gene who puts so much time and effort into these events wherever and whenever they take place - brilliant stuff once again! Enjoy the cans of Guinness too mate! 

Roll on the next meet in April 2023...

Cheers

Vi 

[Brown Granada]

Another brilliant weekend away to see the Spring and Port wine locations in Bolton. A film I was very new to even though I had heard of it before I had never actually seen it until a week before the meet. I had never been to Bolton before either so was really looking forward to see what it had to offer. 
The locations came thick and fast and it was great to see so many from the film. My favourites being the Crompton House area and the canal walkabout at the end, but there were so many to enjoy. Very sad to see the house and other places a bit run down now but its been 52 years so things change and not always for the better sadly.
Seeing Fred Dibnahs house was very cool and even better that we were allowed to go inside the yard and rear garden thanks to Bernie having a word. Its was also nice to see his grave. A very much missed man.
A couple of nights out in Manchester went down well and gave everyone a chance to talk about the meet over a nice meal and a few beers.
Big big thanks as ever to Gene for again going above and beyond to bring this meet together. Thanks mate it really is appreciated by us all. Without these meets there's parts of the country I would never have been too so thanks again. Also Gene a big thanks for the lift up to Bolton and back too. Great banter in the car, not laughed so much in ages.
Big thanks also to Peter Picard for driving us around in the afternoon. We all had a great laugh in the car.
And now on to Bernie. What an absolute pleasure it was to meet him and Pauline. Thank you both for giving up your time to spend with us and talk to us in detail at each location. Those insights are so valuable and really made the day knowing those extra bits of information. Also and what a sport he was to do the reenactment with the coat box at the Crompton house. Brilliant stuff. A true gentleman. 
And lastly thank you to everyone else for making it a great weekend away with many laughs along the way. It was good to see everyone again and catch up.
So once again thank you Gene and I await with excitement to what's next.
Tare care all.
BG.

[The Saint]

The only downside to the Spring and Port Wine meet was that the weekend went by too quickly!

It was great to get back up north again for another legendary 4:3tv meet, planned and executed with precision by our very own Gene, you did us proud yet again Guv.

The weekend was made very special by having Gene’s friends Bernard Smidowicz and his wife Pauline with us, Bernard not only starred in the film back in 1969, but also had a lot of involvement behind the scenes during production and his recollections provided a fascinating insight.

An excellent choice of locations made for a relaxing day of a walking tour in the morning and a driving tour after lunch, this approach works very well. Highlights for me were the Crompton house and finishing the meet at the canal.

The additional locations of Fred Dibnah’s statue, his grave and house were a real treat.

Everyone was on great form and enjoyable company.

Huge thanks to Gene for organising the weekend, it ran like clockwork which is a testament Gene’s thorough planning over many months.

Thanks also to Sam and Stan for being great company in the car travelling to and from Bolton.

Looking forward to the next meet!

The Saint

[Dirty Epic]

Well another brilliant meet is behind us and it’s time to reflect on what for me was another enjoyable couple of days this time in Lancashire’s (officially Greater Manchester’s) proud historic industrial town Bolton a place I once worked in and had fond memories of in the mid/late ‘90’s.

As there’s so much to pack in I’m going to look at the Saturday in this post and I'm also not looking at the other posts too. I travelled up with Gene, Steed, Windy and Brown Granada to sunny (rainy ) Bolton. We saw a couple of locations along the way into the town centre used in S&PW and the Fred Dibnah programmes before we settled in at the ‘Spoons in the town to meet up with the faces, share a few tales and to sink a few beers before a wash and brush up and contemplation of the night out!

As Manchester is (fairly) close by and right or wrong the lustre seemed lacking in Bolton for an evening out a trip to Manchester seemed the order of the day so like with the LoM meet last year we sunk a few in the Port Street Beer House. Manchester’s Northern Quarter like many big towns and cities has many good pubs and bars but the vibe at Port Street is laid back and a good mix of people, no pretentious sods or “head the balls” (well it was until we went there!) and they’ve even got a 9% Stout on the go in there… sadly had to resist that one just in case!

Time for some grub so it was off too The Printworks and a curry at the Delhi House Café. Again another chance for a catch up and some banter with the group over a few beers and a biryani. As with most things and these meets in particular the time just flies so it was back to Bolton and our hotel for a few drinks with Gene, Sam, Saint, Steed and Vi before turning in for the night and getting ready for the main event on Sunday with our special guest Bernie Smidowicz – a top man , that Gene arranged for the day.

Sunday is coming in my next post I would like to say massive thanks to Gene and The Saint for sorting out the Uber’s and the beers/meal for the Saturday too – much appreciated.

Stay tuned for Day 2!

[Del Boy]

Curry ? Thought you lot would have a Fish Supper.