

The 1970s brought the new Hollywood directors to make Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi, Raiders Of The Lost Ark and Who Framed Roger Rabbit; the 1980s saw The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

The studios featured in the Gerry Anderson series UFO as the Harlington-Straker studios; this was where The Muppet Show and Sapphire And Steel were shot; and when it was acquired by the BBC in the 1980s it became the home of Eastenders.

Sadly a decline at the start of the 1970s saw several of the studios combine and then close, leaving large areas of vacant land.
By the 1980s these were redeveloped as housing estates and as a nod to their film heritage the roads were named after many leading stars.
If you take a closer look at the map (left) you’ll see with Margaret Ruthford Close, Gary Cooper Cresent, Peter Sellers Close, David Niven Close, Ivor Novello Way. Studios memorialised include Pinewood Close, Denham Way, Danziger Way, Ealing Close, Gate Close and Shepperton Close.

TODD CLOSE is named as a tribute to Richard Todd, star of The Dam Busters, but also the star of Kinda, the 1982 Peter Davison story.
Obviously the local link is to the 1950s film rather the the 1980s tv episode, but either way it is a Doctor Who actor.
Richard Todd, we salute you!
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