In 1964 Rediffusion Television created and syndicated a further adaption of The Navy Lark which was partly scripted by Lawrie Wyman and Sid Colin of Navy Lark film fame the other two being Maurice Wiltshire and Lewis Schwarz. It is interesting to note that the Royal Navy was entirely behind the production and it was Lawrie’s wish to use Portsmouth locations, not studios, whenever possible. The technical adviser for the series is Lt. Cmdr. Ian Cox, R.N. Retd. who has acted as adviser for many films about the navy. In addition the unit had had full co-operation to film exterior shots at Portland and Portsmouth. Moreover, it seems that many Portsmouth people were used as extras. Despite pleas in the Portsmouth Evening News, no one came forward; maybe I was too late to capture those stories. The episodes were given rather lengthy titles. The first programme was called "Captain Art Thou Sleeping There Above?" In which Commander Fairweather takes a sail down memory lane and can't find his way back. Other titles include: "Don't Fire That Man, He's Loaded", "The Sea Does Not Want Them" and "Call Me Madam, And I'll Punch You on the Nose"
Sadly the series failed to get aired at the right time of day back in 1964. It was broadcast at any time between 5.30pm and 7pm by the various regional companies when people were returning home from work and eating their evening meal before settling down to watch TV later. Radio was still prominent and television viewing habits were quite different back then.
If you are unfamiliar with the series, HMS Paradise was set on the fictional island of Boonsey off the Dorset coast. Not unlike the Herbert Wilcox film from five years earlier.
Nothing spectacular happened except for the familiar Navy Lark shenanigans of dodging work and fiddling and of course calamitous events. As usual, there was an early warning system in case any top brass from the Admiralty decided to visit.
HMS Paradise was filmed entirely around Portsmouth and included aerial filming from helicopters In one episode Clive Dunn’s wife Priscilla Morgan told me that she was in the Solent for half a day non-stop where she became chilled to the core as she was filmed from above in one scene. Another episode featured the “sinking” of a Royal Naval vessel. A hulk was towed into position and actually shelled for the episode. The navy loaned helicopters and the cast were taken out to sea several times in various vessels.
The Navy provided the use of the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, its largest carrier – at the time - for a 55 minute HMS Paradise Christmas spectacular with Val Doonican as the special guest. The Malcolm Clare Dancers and The Alan Braden Band provide the dancing and music together with Julie Rogers, and The Ladybirds and the entire cast of H.M.S. Paradise: Richard Caldicot (who played Capt. Turvey), Prank Thornton (Cmdr. Fairweather), Robin Hunter (Lt. Pouter), Ronald Radd (C.P.O. Banyard), Angus Lennie (A.B. Murdoch) and Priscilla Morgan (Wren Amanda), enjoyed the opportunity to step out of their uniforms and appear in some unusual costumes in comedy sketches.
Months of planning went into the production of the show, which was recorded before an audience of 2,500 men and officers, their wives and girlfriends, in the hangar of the ship.
And here is where the first of our two 'MacGuffins’ arrive because Rediffusion states that a special filmed recording was being flown to the ship (after it had sailed) so that the entire 3,000 members of the crew can see the show on board at the same time as viewers at home. Where did that go? The second, is that an unauthenticated rumour persists that an unbroadcast pilot recording exists.
Before that ‘extravaganza’ was put on a technical survey of the ship was carried out in August in Plymouth, and again at Portsmouth in early September. 'H.M.S. Eagle' sailed after each occasion, and the production unit had to remember and collate the necessary information while she was on exercise in Gibraltar and the Channel. Arrangements had to be made to accommodate some 120 members of the cast and outside broadcast unit in Plymouth over a period of four days as the show was being rehearsed and recorded. It took three days to complete the rigging, and build the stage, the proscenium, was presented to the ship. Twelve of the 22 outside "broadcast vehicles which were used had to queue along with the potato lorries, railway trucks, naval supplies, ammunition and aircraft equipment to be lifted on board.
In my written exchanges with former crew members of HMS Eagle, I learned that the ship was on a really tight schedule to leave Portsmouth as it was heading for the Far East and essential operational duties there. This meant that the stage sets were still in place as the ropes tying the vessel to the quayside were being loosened almost as the show’s cast and production crew were leaving the ship.
Of those 26 shows filmed, most reels were junked by Rediffusion but the rumour mill suggests that possibly just one episode escaped the dustbin. My machinations suggest that when Thames acquired Rediffusion this was the final assault on the 'Paradise' stock cupboard and when those further rationalisations took place more filmed content went in that decluttering session. I believe I have located a recording, the owner states it is silent, but despite repeated requests across many years Huntley Films have never been willing to respond in any way to my correspondence or my requests about how to acquire a copy of the recording. The film 1036758
now labelled "HMS Paradise" remains advertised as “Preview on request” – Good luck to anyone taking on the challenge. Deep pockets are a necessity I fear... One archivist I connected with more than a decade and half ago advised “They are supposed to be a national archive - I would not give my rarities to them, as that's the last anyone is likely to see of them!”
If you have more information or a copy of the show I am definitely keen to see and learn more.
