A Trip to the Co-op with Cleggy

On Saturday 27 May 2023 David Fenwick returned to Holmfirth for the first time since making First of the Summer Wine. He was appearing on a panel to answer questions at the Summer Wine Memories event which formed part of the festival to celebrate 50 years of Last of the Summer Wine.

The Summer Wine Memories panel – Stuart Fell (Compo’s stunt double in Last of the Summer Wine, who also was stunt advisor for the First of the Summer Wine episode Not Thee Missus), Tommy Cannon, chair Bob Fischer (from the Summer Winos), Jonathan Linsley (who played Crusher in Last of the Summer Wine and appeared as Chunky Livesey in the First of the Summer Wine episode Ain’t Love Dangerous) and David Fenwick.

After the event, comedy photographer Andy Hollingworth offered to take David and myself to Netherthong, to the location used as the First of the Summer Wine Co-op (see my earlier article on this location).

When First of the Summer Wine was shot, this was Netherthong Post Office, with David recalling that filming could only take place on a Sunday, but it is now being converted into a house and we met the owner.

I noticed that the entries to the cellars used in the series were not in evidence and David recalled that these were built in as part of the set dressing of the building.

David then posed for some photographs wearing the plastic mac used by Peter Sallis in the final series of Last of the Summer Wine (which had been kindly loaned to Andy Hollingworth by the Summer Wine Museum).

Earlier in the day Andy had done some photo portraits of David in the mac and cap which he has let me reproduce here:

(c) Andy Hollingworth Archive

(c) Andy Hollingworth Archive

(c) Andy Hollingworth Archive

There is a definite resemblance to Peter Sallis!

To see more of Andy’s work, visit his website: www.andyhollingworth.com

Andy also kindly took a photo of David and myself:

(c) Andy Hollingworth Archive

In true Summer Wine style we adjourned to a pub or two later in the day. David recollected that in the episode Snuff and Stuff (which I think may be my personal favourite, though we are all spoilt for choice), the scene right at the end after the credits have rolled, was shot after the audience had left the studio and basically involved Derek Benfield as Mr Scrimshaw having cat food up his nose and then a series of cats being taken out of boxes in turn to see which one would give the shot they wanted!

Definitely a grand day out!

[Note (added with David’s permission): When these pictures were taken in May 2023 David was on steroids and other medication awaiting heart surgery, and these resulted in an increase in weight. Having had the surgery he is now losing weight and getting back to normal.]