New Sky studios should be named after Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg

I cannot believe I recently had to switch on my central heating in June and was unable to sit in my garden. Since I retired 12 years ago I love sitting outdoors, being visited by my local bees and birds and enjoying seeing the plants in full bloom. A long way from my once hectic lifestyle, but I enjoy it.

I never thought I would live to see Borehamwood regain its title the Hollywood of England, coined by visitor Charlie Chaplin in the 1930s, but it is happening. The new massive Sky Studios is now being built just yards away from the great old MGM Studios. There are also possible plans for another giant studio to be built beside it.

For me it is wonderful to see two new giant sound stages and ancillary buildings being constructed at my beloved Elstree Studios. All credit to the managing director Roger Morris and the chairman of the board Morris Bright for making the studio such a success in recent years. I think the new stages should be named after Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg, who both filmed at Elstree. They could also name a toilet or something after me for my past efforts, although perhaps not.

I am planning to write another book about our local film studios. My first was published several years ago as a fund raiser for our local Museum. Entitled Elstree Confidential, it was to be honest an ego trip about 50 years of my memories. I am more proud of my second book, MGM British Studios (Hollywood In Hertfordshire), which is a fundraiser for the voluntary group Elstree Screen Heritage, of which I am Chairman. Luckily it has gone into reprint so I think I did justice to the subject and it is available at their webpage.