Welcome back loyal readers for another trip down Memory Lane to the days when Elstree Studios were world famous as the Hollywood of England and stars were stars.

This time we reflect on the lives of two famous names whose careers included important roles at Elstree.

The first is Sir John Mills who has become a living legend of the British cinema and who at the age of 96 with severely impaired hearing and sight still continues to appear in front of the cameras.

His latest role last year in Bright Young Things cast him in a cameo appearance as a 'man taking cocaine at a party'!

Amazingly Sir John started his movie career 70 years ago at Elstree Studios. I had the pleasure to organise a plaque unveiling in his honour at the studio in the mid 1990s and invited his daughter Hayley to attend along with Lady Mills and some of his former co-stars.

At the time Sir John told me: "My first major film role was at this studio in 1933 with that great comedy actor Will Hay in Those Were The Days. I learnt a great deal from him about timing and acting before a camera which was a lot different from my stage experience."

Sir John also recalled a later film at Elstree called It's Great To Be Young shot in 1956 including location work in Aldenham. "It was a fun picture to make and I was offered a percentage of the profits but my agent advised me to take a flat salary instead. It went on to be a big success which was just my luck."

Sir John's other Borehamwood movies included Dunkirk, Ice Cold In Alex, Dulcima and Operation Crossbow before he went on to win an Oscar for his role in Ryan's Daughter. He joked: "I spent all those years perfecting a good speaking voice in countless stage and film appearances only to end up with an Academy Award for a non-speaking role!"

As I walked Sir John to his car after the plaque unveiling he turned and looked back at the studio and commented: "I can't believe it is over 60 years since I walked through the gates here for the first time. If you ever have any roles for an old jobbing actor at Elstree don't forget me."

I don't think we will ever forget Sir John Mills' contribution to the movies.

As part of my occasional series on the origin of the road names on the Studio Estate today I turn the spotlight on Oberon Close.

When I was asked to help name the streets on the former MGM Studio site I picked Merle Oberon as she had Borehamwood connections with her movie career.

Merle was only 5ft 2ins tall but was a classic beauty. In fact her dark good looks came from having been born to a white father and a mother from Ceylon. This background was considered a possible hindrance to an acting career so bizarrely Merle passed off her mother as being her maid when she moved from India to England.

Her film career began at Elstree in 1930 in a series of uncredited bit parts but was then cast in the highly successful Private Life Of Henry VIII in 1933 which helped her get spotted by Hollywood.

Throughout the remaining 1930s and 1940s Merle enjoyed a successful career in Tinsel Town. In 1937 a car crash left her with some facial scars but her cameraman, whom she later married, invented a compact spotlight which was attached to the camera and shone light directly on her face. The result was to successfully reduce facial lines and scars when photographed.

Like many stars of her era Merle's screen career petered out in the 1960s, but by then she was a wealthy woman. Merle died from a massive stroke at the age of 68 in 1979 still retaining her beauty to the end.

I have just visited our local cinema in Shenley Road to watch two big effects movies. The first was the excellent Troy starring Brad Pitt, who looks depressingly fit considering there is only a few years separating us. Why have I ended up with a barrel while he has a six-pack, despite my being a frequent visitor to the Hertswood Sports Centre? I wonder if I should try the gym rather than the bar?

The other film was The Day After Tomorrow which has some excellent special effects but the acting and story were less than desired.

Well this is a busy time of the year so I cannot linger longer. By the way if you ever want to know whatever happened to one of your old screen favourites just drop me a line care of the Borehamwood & Elstree Times. Until the next time happy cinema-going.