David Croft was one of the original BBC TV writers for the TV series of Hi De Hi. This is a dedication to him from his daughter Penny Croft.
"Dad absolutely loved Hi de Hi! My sister, Beckie, and I used to drive up and visit him in Harwich where they filmed it. One of my fondest memories was of him, standing behind the camera in his enormous filming coat, eating a bacon butty and roaring with laughter. It was a magical time. How could I ever forget:
Susie Belbin. the director, running like the clappers from one end of the swimming pool to the other, trying to get the extras to look enthusiastic and holiday-like. No mean feat, but she did it. Good old Captain Belbin, marshalling the troops, fag in one hand, script in the other "All right, Guvnor?" she'd shout "Marvellous" Dad would reply "Where's the Giraffe?"
Su Pollard, flapping her arms about to keep warm, belting out show tunes dressed as a giant shark. Jimmy Perry, with his pipe and jaunty flat caps, always running hither and thither, beavering away at making the lines better..."First rule of Comedy, Dave....truth" Simon Cadell, going through said lines, aimlessly flicking through his Michelin guide and frantically puffing on a Monte Christo.
Assorted girl Yellowcoats being brought over for wardrobe approval. "So what do you think of the shorts?" asks Mary H., "Not short enough" says Dad "David, dear, if I make them any shorter they'll look like bloody thongs" "Sounds like a plan" grins Dad.
The camaraderie on that set was breathtaking, the sense of purpose, the sense of fun, the sense of pulling together to make it the best that it could be. There was nothing Dad liked better than being with his cast and crew, and there was nothing they liked better than being with him.
Comedy was simpler then. Less restricted, less PC. And the budgets? Whatever it cost! They were the halcyon days and how very lucky we were to have known them.
We, as a family, wish you at Abbeydale Picture House huge success with your production. Dad would have been so proud and pleased that thanks to people like you, his legacy lives on, not only in all of us, but in the theatre. The true heart of David Croft."