WITH the opening of Betty Blue Eyes on July 4 at Ilkley Playhouse there has been a stirring of collective memory from people in Ilkley who remember or were a part of the filming of A Private Function, the film upon which the musical is based.

The film was scripted by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray and starred Michel Palin and Maggie Smith, along with other big names including Denholm Elliott, Alison Steadman, Richard Griffiths and Liz Smith to name but a few. Michael Palin was made a Patron of Ilkley Playhouse not long after filming finished, he was invited to attend during the run of 'Betty Blue Eyes', but sadly he’s away filming.

Filmed largely in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding, it featured many locals as extras – indeed, some Playhouse members appear on screen. Ilkley Playhouse asked memories of filming and has received some fascinating reminiscences.

Many people remember filming around the butchers in Ben Rhydding, a key location, while shooting on The Grove, Moorfield Road, Hawksworth Street, the moors, and the Winter Gardens and Kings Hall are also fondly recalled. Evie Myers even recalls that her aunt's house was used for parts of the filming.

Furniss, said butcher’s shop, didn’t survive unscathed – the shop window was smashed for a key scene, twice (deliberately!). Tim Wood, then a paper boy, watched the butcher scene being filmed one Saturday morning and remembers the director shouting to him to get out if the way: "It's nice to see you, but we don't want you in our film!"

Martin and Sue Hewitt recall sitting down to lunch on the crew’s travelling bus, when a very nice man asked to join them. This turned out to be one Michael Palin and they had a very friendly chat. Andy Williams also recalls the bus (“fantastic food, like a restaurant”) and also recalls Liz Smith mothering him: “Happy days!”

Vaughan Chapman was in the thick of the off-duty action: he worked behind the bar at the Troutbeck Hotel where the cast and crew were staying. Pils lager seems to have been the tipple of choice for most, although it seems Maggie Smith preferred dry white wine.

There were other perks to being a ‘filming local’ too: Stephen Greensmith tried to see the film at the cinema but was told he was too young. When he said he was from Ilkley, he was promptly let in!

Vicky Wood recalls cast and crew coming to the Green Frog to eat, while Lesley Hudson, then working in a deli on Brook Street, recalls the crew coming in to look for old sacking to use in one of the scenes.

Mary-Ellis Wood not only did Michael Palin’s hair, but also coiffed a whole room full of wigs for the dinner scene (she also recalls that Liz Smith sent her a bouquet of flower when she left).

Pauline Bartliff remembers Lister Street being shut off to film Michael Palin falling off his bike. A hardy soul, Michael – this apparently took ten takes. Meanwhile, Andy Williams worked with the film crew for several weeks, and even got his name in the credits (as 'bucket boy’).

For Kay Vann, who did two days’ filming as an extra, the high point was being asked for her autograph by passing locals: “We told them we were only amateurs from Ilkley, but they insisted, saying we might be famous one day... ah well, still hoping!”

Finally, our favourite anecdote to date comes from Jez Strong, whose father has long maintained that he was the leading man alongside Maggie Smith. Jez has realised that there may have been some exaggeration involved!

With great thanks to the following for all their contributions, sorry if we couldn’t fit all your memories in: Martin and Sue Hewitt, Andy Williams, Vaughan Chapman, Maria Hunt, Tim Wood, Maria Hunt, Vicky Wood, Ruth Nelson, Mervyn Button, Mary-Ellis Wood, Evie Myers, Pauline Bartliff, Dawn Jessop, Greta Bywater, Imogen Clark, Julie A Benson, Stephen Greensmith, Erika Stewart-Holmes, Barnaby Holmes, Ryan McShane, Tanya Holmes, Kaye Hasselby, Louise Smith, Michaela Gale Hobson, Elizabeth Petty, Alex Warren, Kay Vann, Fiona Macpherson, Chris Strong, Jez Strong, Simon Strong, Lesley Hudson (among others) and members of Ilkley Playhouse. And a special thanks to Nick Babb from Ilkley Chat for your help with collecting everyone’s contributions.

If you want to jog a few memories, fancy a bit of nostalgia or just want to see a funny, warm, musical Yorkshire treat then Betty Blue Eyes runs at Ilkley Playhouse from July 4 to 16.