Jock Weir and Fancy Smith

I learnt how to play about 15 notes of the Z Cars theme music on a piano when I was 11.

That's it nothing else

Barlow and Watt

Brilliant programme at the time - must have been early 1960s

mkmel wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:11 am

I learnt how to play about 15 notes of the Z Cars theme music on a piano when I was 11.

That's it nothing else

You could have done more as, just working it out now, it seems 15 notes is the length of the first 'verse', the next one starting off similarly with the first three notes the same before going off differently. I'd put in a claim for 18 notes if I were you.

Isn't it odd that we can remember exactly the Z cars tune from some sixty plus years ago?

Inspector Barlow-Stratford Johns
Wasnt Fancy Smith played by Brian Blessed?
Bert Lynch by James Ellis
But who was the detective sergeant with Barlow?

Got him Frank Windsor John Watt. Was 92 when he died

If i remember it the call sign was BD to Z-Victor 1, Brian Blessed was the actor in the police car, cant remember the other chap, Brian still going strong today, doing booming voice overs on tv. You cant beat the good old black n white tv progs from the 60s, those were the days

Hipper wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:21 am

You could have done more as, just working it out now, it seems 15 notes is the length of the first 'verse', the next one starting off similarly with the first three notes the same before going off differently. I'd put in a claim for 18 notes if I were you.

Isn't it odd that we can remember exactly the Z cars tune from some sixty plus years ago?

Over the years whenever I come across a piano I can't help myself from playing those 15 notes

The memory helped to be kept alive by Everton FC who, of course, play
the theme tune as the players come out.

At least one other club uses it but I can't bring it to mind.

Dixon of Dock Green.....Evening all

From Wiki
Blessed is the oldest man to have reached the North Magnetic Pole on foot,[32] where he says he punched a polar bear on the nose.[33]

amazing guy as according to Wiki he got to 28200ft up Everest without oxygen in 1993 aged about 56

Blessed would be brilliant in a hot air balloon !!!!!

Colin Welland as PC Graham

The theme tune is Johnny Todd and Everton used it (might still?) for their walking out tune. It has its roots in Liverpool folk music and was ain the Spinners (remember them?) repertoire.

Dixon of Dock Green.....Evening all

Is on "Talking Pictures TV" atm.

Funkydrummer wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:31 am

The memory helped to be kept alive by Everton FC who, of course, play
the theme tune as the players come out.

At least one other club uses it but I can't bring it to mind.

Is it Watford?

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:15 am

Barlow and Watt

Brilliant programme at the time - must have been early 1960s

I remember these two characters.

Was there a linked programme called ‘Softly Softly’ or have I made that up in my head?

beeholeclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:50 am

Is it Watford?

It is Watford. When Bill McGarry was their manager in the 1960s, he went to a game at Goodison, went back and said he liked the music and wanted it played when the teams came out at Vicarage Road. They dropped it a couple of years ago but got a lot of complaints so reinstated it.

But I always think Everton when I hear it, now with that blasted siren just before they play it.

beeholeclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:51 am

I remember these two characters.

Was there a linked programme called ‘Softly Softly’ or have I made that up in my head?

'Softly Softly' was the spin-off series, which was about the continuing exploits of Barlow and Watt.

beeholeclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:51 am

I remember these two characters.

Was there a linked programme called ‘Softly Softly’ or have I made that up in my head?

Yes you are correct about Softly Softly.

Stratford Johns wrote a book for children, entitled 'Gumphlumph'. I have a vinyl record of him reading the stories from it. I wonder if any other folks on here have that LP?

I think Softly Softly was more detective based than the bobby on the beat.

Hendrickxz wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:44 am

The theme tune is Johnny Todd and Everton used it (might still?) for their walking out tune. It has its roots in Liverpool folk music and was ain the Spinners (remember them?) repertoire.

Went in the 'Johnny Todd' pub in Kirkby one Saturday night with my Everton supporting mate. 1973, we'd lost 1-0 at Goodison that afternoon. Let's just say lively, very lively.

Non league Workington also come out to the tune. I have several episodes on DVD - the programme ran from 1962 to 1978, and the final word of the very last episode was 'Geronimo!'

For those young 'uns who don't know what we're reminiscing about, this is how it all began.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r ... &FORM=VIRE

,,,,and it was broadcast live!

beeholeclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 9:50 am

Is it Watford?

You're right, it is. but I was thinking more of a lower league club.
Maybe Morecambe or Fleetwood perhaps

Was it PC Sweet that drowned, to national dismay as he was a well liked character?

Remember learning to play the theme tune on our recorders at Ightenhill juniors.

We'd make a good duo Mike. Me on the piano and you on a recorder.

Evertons run out tune.Very apt as Z cars was filmed in nearby Kirkby. However, why on Earth Watford with a past employee with a very tenous Scouse connection think it's OK to use the tune is a mystery.

Z Car candy cigarettes

Ford Anglia's somehow looked like very good cars back then

JohnMac wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 5:01 pm

Ford Anglia's somehow looked like very good cars back then

They did, but they weren’t the cars used in Z Cars - they were Zephyrs or Zodiacs I think.

ClaretCliff wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 10, 2024 5:04 pm

They did, but they weren’t the cars used in Z Cars - they were Zephyrs or Zodiacs I think.

I seem to remember having an Anglia from Corgi or Dinky but age diminishes the memory. Most images on line show the Zephyr, a mighty car in its day!

A lot of the filming was done at Lancashire police HQ at Hutton. My wife and Sister InLaw were based there and we've got autographs of all the actors.

There was a bloke locally who took a "Z car" to shows. He stored it in a lock up near Colne. Not sure if it was a gen version or something spoofed up to look like a Z-cars Zephyr. From memory it was a dark green colourand had a ruddy great blue light on top.