Midsomer murders makes for murky mystery.

 

 

"The visitor moorings will be closed for one week from 15-22 September 2006"

so read the laminated notice below Stocker's Lock. I had spotted these notices several times when taking various groups on their trips north towards Ricky & beyond [as Buzz Lightyear might say.] This was the first time I'd been close enough to read one though. It seemed like every time the boat travelled up that way, I was steering & eager tyros were operating the locks, but I finally read that 'disruption should be kept to a minimum, the navigation & towpath would be largely unaffected--although the occasional boat stoppage might be requested as & when the filming[?] took place[!]

 

             Over the last couple of weeks [probably the busiest I have known while steering for HNA] there has been constructed on the starboard [natural] bank, a mooring jetty with the entreaty 'please don't tie to this mooring--temporary structure' written thereon. 

So my curiosity was aroused, HNA is often the location for outside shots of "Judge John Deed's" girlfriend, Jo, supposedly driving down in front of "The Long Room" a listed building, but doubling as Jo's flat entrance. I've yet to see Jenny Seagrove or indeed Martin Shaw but they definitely are familiar with HNAs environs.

 

              Was this to be a watery legal drama then?    No, the towpath telegraph, powerful tool that it is, informed me that "Midsomer Murders" was the culprit that was to cause the moorings to be closed to ordinary mortals.

Even so, as I took Chalfont Lodge on their northern sojourn this morning, 20 September, I was intrigued to see the field adjoining Stocker's Farm full of activity, with vehicles, cameras, lights, equipment & personnel in abundance.    

                   

This location, along with its 14th century farmhouse, has been used by countless productions including Robin Hood-Prince of thieves, starring Kevin Costner, Foyle's War at the coal inspector's magnificent Georgian mansion just yards past the present filming location, on the towpath side, & a little further still lies Black Beauty's field, so named because the seminal children's TV series was filmed there!   

                      

            A surreal nature was added to the pastoral scene today as two individuals with wounds to their faces that wouldn't have looked out of place in "An American Werewolf in London" stood casually chatting to make-up girls & fellow actors [no, I didn't see John Nettles] Strangely though, I almost missed the "dead body" lying on its back, covered in blood, & with a chunk missing from its torso that suggested "Jaws" had forsaken Amity Beach for Rickmansworth's sunny climes!

 

            Dodgy place, Midsomer!!