Heybridge Basin (Cannibal Island)

Film Makers in the Village

Snow Goose

The village has been chosen on several occasions as a place to shoot section's and scene's for a movie or TV film or TV show. The most noteable filming was for the film 'Snow Goose', when Tom Polden's 'Locker' was used for a scene carrying wounded soldiers home from Dunkirk. Lots of fun was had with Tom having to make his way blind in to the lock through a considerable amount of artificial fog made by an over enthusiastic group of technicians.

(above) Tom Polden's 47ft ex Naval Pinnace 'Locker'. On it's usual mooring off the Basin in 1980.

Game For A Laugh

A complete session of 'Game For A Laugh' was filmed on the old property of 'May & Butcher' and the house 'Seaview', with the singer 'Toya' and military vehicles including a tank from the collection of Colin Brookes. In one part Colin drove his tank through and destroyed one of the old wooden buildings that had been brought from Osea Island. Filming carried on over several more days at Ulting. Sections from the TV filmed in the village can be seen on 'Youtube' by searching under either 'AMX13 Tank' or 'Colin Brookes'.

(above) a tank of Colin's is parked outside 'River Cottage' awaiting the start of filming. Nanette Brookes is talking to some film crew while Colin is still inside the tank.

(above) driving the tank in to 'May & Butcher's' old property with a guide on the outside.

(above) preparing the set for Colin to drive through and demolish some wooden buildings.

(above) preparation for some fun filming of the sequence of accidentally driving over the dustbins.

(above) during a break in filming, Colin Brookes teaching his wife Nanette to drive with appropriate 'L' plate fitted.