Where does the time go? Don’t answer that. The weeks have whizzed by with Robert up to his eyes in research and writing for various projects…as well as celebrating a milestone birthday with family and friends. He has also contributed heavily to a new, two-part Radio 4 documentary provisionally entitled ‘Carry On Forever’. To be broadcast next month, Leslie Phillips presents while such great names as Liz Fraser, Anita Harris, Shirley Eaton and Kenneth Cope contribute their memories of the series.

It’s hard to believe but today is the 34th anniversary of the death of Sid James. Raise a glass to him today. Another Carry On favourite who deserves a toast is Charles Hawtrey. His roller-coaster life and career from boy soprano to drunken recluse is related by Robert’s good friend, Wes Butters. Charles Hawtrey, That Funny Fella with the Glasses can be heard on Radio 4 tomorrow from 11:30am and Wes’s long-awaited and painstakingly researched book is published to coincide with the broadcast.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first episode of ‘The Goodies’. Typically BBC Television show no signs of celebrating the event although Radio 4, the eternal home of Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden, are producing a documentary salute. For those of us craving another Goodies DVD release there is an on-line petition designed to show the B.B.C. how much the show is still revered and loved. Please show your support by adding your name to: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?2010gds&1

As a long-standing supporter of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, Robert will be involved in the up-coming London Party. Carry On Up the London Party is billed as the ‘Sauciest London Party Ever!’ and will be held at The Conservatory, Chelsea on Thursday 1st July. There are still a couple of tables available so for further information please visit: hhttp://www.ctbf.co.uk/#/236

Pinewood Studios holds a wine reception tribute to Peter Rogers; a touching tribute to the Carry On producer who would have been 96 this week. British film was all the more sadder when it was announced that Lionel Jeffries had died at the age of 83. As a writer and director he made his mark with ‘The Railway Children’ and ‘The Water Babies’ but he had already chalked up dozens of unforgettable acting credits in such films as ‘The Quatermass Xperiment’, ‘Blue Murder at St. Trinian’s’, ‘Murder Ahoy!’, ‘Stage Fright’, ‘Jumping for Joy’, ‘The Revenge of Frankenstein’, ‘Doctor At Large’, ‘Two Way Stretch’, ‘The Wrong Arm of the Law’, ‘Rocket to the Moon’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. His reading of the lolloping bear and singing of ‘P.O.S.H.’ will always bring a smile to the lips of admirers of this finest of character actors.

London fun with David Barry, Paul Cole, George Innes and the boys.

A trip to the National Film Theatre to attend a screening of ‘The Professionals’ and ‘The New Professionals’; screened in tribute to its star, Edward Woodward.

Tributes to that class act, actor Ian Carmichael, who starred in a handful of Robert’s favourite films of the 1950s and 1960s: ‘I’m Alright, Jack’, ‘Double Bunk’, Private’s Progress’, ‘Light Up the Sky!’ and ‘Heavens Above!’. Later he was the definitive Bertie Wooster and Lord Peter Wimsey, and chalked up notable film appearances in ‘From Beyond the Grave’ and Hammer’s remake of ‘The Lady Vanishes’. He died at the age of 89.

A hectic month of research is happily halted with a fun and boozy lunch with good pals Alan Coles and Henry Holland and new friend George Innes. Life would be intolerable without London-based show-biz lunches, Amelia 😉

The New Year looks set to be a busy one with an ongoing script project with Paul Cole, two major comedy biographies and a couple of reference works in the pipeline.