I must start by saying my own farewell to that great actor and true gentleman Derek Fowlds, who died recently. I knew him for many years and the last time we met was only about three months ago at an event held at Elstree Studios. Derek looked frail and in a long conversation he told me he had recently suffered a heart attack but was looking forward to going on a cruise, although he was sadly not allowed even a glass of wine.

Derek will always be remembered for three iconic television roles. First came the partner to Basil Brush, then Yes Minister and finally a 16-year run on Heartbeat. He recalled: "I had been acting for about 10 years before Basil Brush made me a household name but after I left I was unemployed for nearly a year. However, a career in acting is a marathon, not a sprint and those two lovely roles came along."

I am glad his passing was given good coverage in the press and television news as so often once you have not not been on the screen for a while the media assumes the public are not interested.

I was surprised to hear that the new owners of 20th Century Fox will no longer release movies under that banner but as 20th Century Films, but retain the famous fanfare

The company name came into existence in the early 1930s when a new company, 20th Century, merged with the Fox company that was founded in the silent era.

Why meddle with history as part of what is presumably some rebranding move? Do they really feel it will help sell a single seat more to any future film releases?

My memory for this week goes back to I think 1988 - 32 years ago! I was the programme consultant on a two-part BBC television documentary about the history of film production in Borehamwood. I arranged for Richard Todd to return to Elstree Studios so they could film him walking about the site, recalling making The Dam Busters.

They were shooting Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade and as we were filming Harrison Ford stepped out of a sound stage door dressed as Indy. He looked bemused and said something like "sorry fellas if I spoiled your shot".

I would have loved for that moment to have been kept in the documentary as an Elstree hero of the 1950s met an Elstree hero of the 1980s. Alas corporate showbiz would never allow it, which is always a great shame.

This was on the part of the site now occupied by Tesco, who bought 12 acres for £19 million a year or so later.

I had actually met Harrison at Elstree ten years before on a night shoot on the backlot but I have told that story before as I have probably told the one above. I have three excuses: firstly I do not keep copies of my articles so no doubt I am liable to repeat myself; secondly, we are always gaining new readers; thirdly, after 43 years what do you expect - blood?

Finally until we next travel Memory Lane thank you to readers who say they enjoy reading these rambles whether they are in St Albans, Watford, Barnet or Borehamwood, not to mention North London. You are all proof that while we cannot live in the past we can certainly look back and enjoy it.

  • Paul Welsh MBE is a Borehamwood writer and historian of Elstree Studios