On Sunday 24th September Pinewood Studios played host to one of the yearly events held by Bondstars. I have been trying for several years to get tickets, and thankfully this year my wife managed to get two, so we headed for the home of James Bond and a day of Classic Bond. It was a great day and the morning that started with a 4k screening of You Only Live Twice in the John Barry Theatre in the presence of some of the cast and crew from the film. The afternoon was filled with Q&A and signing sessions, a quiz and was rounded off by Brian Gorman's One Man Bond. It was a real pleasure to be able to just sit and talk with some of the guests and hear their stories on working on the Bond films and their careers in general. We especially enjoyed talking to Norman Wanstall and talking all things 007, films, sound, editing and just life in general. If you haven't been to one of these events before I highly recommend it. To find out more about Bondstars events, private signings and to view their store of Bond alumni autographs visit their website here.
Classic Bond event programme and name badges
Watching a 4K print of You Only Live Twice in the John Barry Theatre with guests of honour (from left to right) Dickie Bamber, Bill Cartlidge, Peter Lamont, Rocky Taylor, Francesca Tu, Shane Rimmer, Norman Wanstall, Sylvana Henriques, Vic Armstrong and host Gareth Owen
Meeting Nadja Regin who played Kerim Bey's mistress in From Russia With Love and Bonita Goldfinger. I got her to sign a From Russia With love EP. A lovely lady.
Meeting Norman Wanstall who has worked in the sound department on five James Bond films from Dr No to You Only Live Twice and won an Oscar for his work on Goldfinger. I got him to sign my event programme. An amazing guy, we sat and talked with him for half an hour about all things 007, sound and just life in general.
Meeting Caron Gardner who played one of the pilots in Pussy Galore's Flying Circus in Goldfinger. I got her to sign a copy of the Goldfinger theme from the Netherlands. A very pleasant lady.
Meeting Alan Tomkins who served as art director on five James Bond films. I got him to sign my event programme. A lovely guy, although I don't get to talk to him for very long.
Meeting Francesca Tu who played Osato's secretary in You Only Live Twice. I got her to sign a copy of the You Only Live Twice theme from Japan. A very sweet lady.
Meeting Paul Weston who has served as a stuntman on various Bond films as well as having a very small part in The Living Daylights. I got him to sign my event programme. Such a great guy and a pleasure to meet the man who utters the famous line 'Hold on, you're dead' to Timothy Dalton's Bond!
Meeting Bill Cartlidge who served as an assistant director and later associate producer on all three Lewis Gilbert directed Bond films. I got him to sign my event programme. A very funny guy who had plenty of stories from his time working on Bond.
Meeting Peter Lamont who has served as a draughtsman through to production designer on 18 Bond films. I got him to sign my event programme. A fascinating guy and it was a pleasure to talk to him about his career, not only on Bond, but with James Cameron and finally winning the Oscar for his work on Titanic.
Pinewood Studios exterior as featured in From Russia With Love as the house on Spectre Island
