In October 1931 an eight-year-old lad arrived on a steam train at the Elstree railway station and disembarked with his mother.

He was excited about a visit to the BIP Studio in Shenley Road, arranged by a family friend who was a major shareholder in the company.

The young lad, against his family's wishes, had developed the acting bug, but little did he know the visit would change his life.

His name was Peter Lawford and years later he recalled: "We went on to the set at Elstree and I was fascinated by it all. We watched a scene being shot on a film directed by Monty Banks.

"The child actor being used was not a success and Monty spotted me and asked my mother if I could be tested, to which she reluctantly agreed. I was given a contract for a few days work for a few pounds, but I knew then I wanted to be an actor."

A few years later Peter was in Los Angles with his family when he started getting some bit parts in movies, and eventually a contract with MGM, which led to starring roles in glossy musicals and dramas.

At that time he met Frank Sinatra, and went on later to become a member of the legendary rat pack.

Peter also married the sister of John Kennedy and became very close to the man who later would become the President of the United States.

In 1962 he was probably the last person to speak to Marilyn Monroe on the night of her death, and has often been linked with conspiracy theories suspecting she was murdered. Whatever the truth about her death, it is something Peter took to the grave.

By the 1960s and 1970s his career was on the skids, not helped by a drink and drugs habit. Peter returned to Borehamwood 38 years after that first time to film One More Time at MGM, directed by Jerry Lewis and co-starring Sammy Davis Jr. The film was not a success.

Peter died broke in 1984. He was buried near Marilyn, but four years later his funeral expenses had still not been paid. This resulted in his ashes being disinterred and scattered at sea. A sad end for that little boy who visited Borehamwood 71 years ago full of excitement, and went on to taste the heights of success, but ended with nothing.

Twenty years ago a 12-part television thriller series was shot at Elstree called Reilly Ace Of Spies, starring Sam Neill, now more famous for starring in Jurassic Park.

The real life Reilly became famous as a master spy against the Bolsheviks in Russia in 1917. He disappeared in 1925 and nobody knew his fate.

Now MI5 records have been released to the Public Records Office, and it now looks like he was lured back to Russia that year and secretly executed on the direct orders of Josef Stalin. Unlike Marilyn Monroe's end, perhaps this is the closing chapter on another 20th Century mystery.

Although I did not watch much of the opening programme, I see that the Big Brother contestants are safely installed in the house on the backlot of Elstree Studios.

Trying to remember back to my school days of twenty-ish years ago, did the expression big brother' not come from a novel called 1984? I also seem to recall a film version of that novel, starring Edmond O'Brien, being made at Elstree in the 1950s. If my memories are correct that is a strange coincidence.

Finally, it was nice to meet veteran actor Herbert Lom again at Elstree. Herbert has starred in many films but is probably best known for his roles in The Ladykillers, and as Peter Seller's long suffering boss in the Pink Panther films.

He was at the Studio to get some clips put together for a forthcoming tribute to him at the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

It must be nearly 40 years ago since he made the TV series The Human Jungle at the Studio. I guess not many actors today will enjoy such lengthy and successful careers.

July 17, 2002 17:30