How did A Write Carry On come to be? The idea for the
book first appeared light bulb like in 2002. I'd recently taken a walk from the
Devil’s Dyke in
The village had changed little. Many of the memories
of my formative years spent with Tolly came flooding back.
I sat on the very
hill that overlooked his driveway, the one I’d been perched on when many of the
Carry On regulars emerged from Tolly’s house after a long afternoon of laughs and
booze.
What I witnessed (included in A Write Carry On) gave a unique insight
into the actors.
From there I wandered down to the village pub, The Shepherd and Dog. I took a seat by the stream and could almost hear the chatter
and laughter coming from the main bar as Tolly – as he had so many times –
talked cricket, women and wickedly tall tales.
I’d also been reading up on the Carry Ons and was
saddened by the lack of column inches given to Tolly. He had been so central to
the series’ success. His double entendres and saucy seaside humour had given the series both its working class
popularity and credibility.
Plus, when he did get a mention, it seemed to be the
same few paragraphs repeated ad infinitum. I was sitting on a book worth of
untold tales, ones that rightly painted a picture of Tolly as a talented, much
loved and professionally respected treasure.
Here’s an insight into a few tales contained within
the pages of A Write Carry On:
The Right-Wing 'Carry On' That Shed The Most Pounds
With ‘Convenience’ a lot of audience goodwill went out the window. In a time of bitter industrial disputes, scriptwriter Talbot ‘Tolly’ Rothwell explored the political themes of the trade union movement.
The script had a noticeable right-wing slant; both mocking and sending-up the unions of the day. In doing so, Tolly alienated the traditional working-class audience of the series.
The Dark Side Of The 'Carry On' Funny Man: Tolly's time in the Palestine Police Force.
Tolly then smiled as he recalled that it hadn’t taken long for him to ingratiate himself into the very separate communities of the stallholders and shopkeepers from the city’s Moslem, Jewish and Christian Quarters. He said his natural way of being courteous and respectful had made him feel welcomed and seemingly above suspicion.
But one thing he didn’t’ take to was the chilly climate of the uplands of Jerusalem. He much preferred the more dependable summer and autumn seasons to be enjoyed in Tel Aviv.
Whilst on routine company patrols and manoeuvres Tolly recalled how he was a witness to the inner-workings and social-struggles of local families. Some mothers were raising as many as eight or nine children on an income of what Tolly classed as a pittance.
This Is Your Life: Coming Out From Behind The Sofa With Kenneth Williams
At Tolly’s that winter’s evening, it was Kenneth Williams who was able to chop his producer down to my size. Of all the Carry On regulars who were there to raise a glass to Tolly’s success, it seemed that it was Kenneth alone who had the strength of personality to strip Peter Rogers of his apparent air of superiority.
Kenneth would not back down on any topic raised by his employer. As Rogers spouted forth on all manner of topics, Kenneth would respond with a witty anecdote that would show he knew more about the topic than its instigator.
I gradually uncurled from the back of the sofa and was soon joining in the chorus of hilarity being raised from the battle of two such great minds. Rogers was soon crying with laughter, and Kenneth had his nose raised as he drew in the air of victory.
A Write Carry On
The Untold Story Of A Man In The Shadows
By Mike Cobley
Wholepoint Publications
Available now via iTunes
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