London Trolleybus No.1 on its last day run
Looking south along Hampton Road [the A311]
from its junction with Fifth Cross Road.

Notes by David Bradley

Click on picture [87r] for an enlarged version

Forty years on and I still bugs how inconsiderate this film crew were in spending the best part of this commemorative run just a few feet from the front of No.1, making it quite difficult for anyone else to obtain a souvenir picture of this historic occasion. Little was ever known of this bunch of clowns and certainly no evidence of their endeavour have ever been seen.

It is always interesting to see in the 1960s the lack of other vehicles on the road, the ability to pull the car up and pop into the shop for a quick purchase and in this picture something else that's not seen in the 21st century, a road sweeper and his cart!

From: "Richard Jennings" <rjnews@blueyonder.co.uk>

There was a letter in the 1 AUG 2003 edition Richmond & Twickenham Times [and other papers in this group - the one I read is the Brentford, Chiswick & Isleworth Times] from a Bernard King of Hanworth Road, Hampton, as follows:

"During 1962 I was compiling Std-8mm cine material for 20-minute record of the end of the London trolleybuses. [Amateur Cine World Gold Star 1962].

At that time, leading up to the final day in May, was a professional film unit covering the event. Looking forward to seeing the end result of their labour, it was disappointing that the professional material shot has, apparently, never been seen!

I've asked a number of transport enthusiasts over the years but none have ever seen the filmed material. I would ask, therefore, is there anyone who can throw any light on this mystery?"

The email address of the newspaper is lettersrtt@london.newsquest.co.uk

Richard Jennings is happy to pass on any information either via the newspaper or direct to Mr King.

Comment by David Bradley

I know exactly what you are talking about and what a pain in the backside that "film crew" were in inhibiting so many good pictures during the ceremonial run. As it happens I was speaking to Hugh Taylor about this "unit" and from memory I think he said something along the lines that "despite extensive research by many people, the film that was supposedly being taken has been, to this day, elusive to track down".

So if the publicity being given by the local paper can unearth some positive leads this would be very much welcomed by transport historians.

From: "Hugh Taylor" <isleworthdepot@trolleybus.net>

A colleague and myself tried to find the film producers but it came to a dead-end. It was called ‘601’ and shown to the Fulwell staff after conversion.