Harking back to 1945 Half a century ago the world was at war and much of Europe in ruins but for a few brief moments Carnforth could forget everything and fantasise about Brief Encounter and its star cast - to coincide with the film's screening at The Dukes,Tom Henry speaks to some of the film's extras "People say to me, 'you should have been a film star' and I always reply, "I already am, I've been in Brief Encounter!" Elaine Maudsley was 19 when a film crew from faraway London rolled into Carnforth station to start work on what is still, perhaps, the most famous British film ever made. Today, it is not uncommon to see warmly clad individuals in odd locations, drinking tea around a camera while the 'talent' hides away in a luxurious caravan. In 1945, however, with the war just won and the world still shattered from it, the appearance of Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard in quiet little Carnforth must have felt something akin to a Royal visit. Mrs Maudsley, along with Halton's Alf Bergus and Chris Woodford from Morecambe, was lucky enough to be chosen as an extra for the film. On Sunday, they sat together again at Lancaster's Dukes Cinema and remembered those precious few moments of fame 50 years ago. "I had a walk on part," explained Elaine, of Dunkirk Avenue. "It is the scene when the express trains go through the station and Stanley Holloway crosses the line. I am the lady who walks up the path, turns round and comes back again." Alf Bergus, a railway fireman, was chosen for his part as a filmic fireman because his driver mate, also asked, wouldn't do it without him. His overriding memories are of Celia Johnson and the ease with which she moved between members of the cast and crew. Trevor Howard was a different character. "I have to say he seemed reserved, a bit unapproachable and I never spoke to him. Stanley Holloway was OK, though." A seminal part of the film occurs towards the end, when the lovelorn couple have to separate and return to the lives they knew before they knew each other. Their misery is compounded by the sight of a girl obviously very much in love. Chris Woodford was this girl, oblivious to the heartache she was causing. "The shooting of the film was advertised in the Morecambe Visitor," she remembered, "I was working in a cinema at the time as an usherette and I came straight to Carnforth and luckily got the job. Mayor of Carnforth Coun Edna Jones was also in attendance at the Dukes on Sunday. Although she is on public display a lot of the time nowadays, she is notably absent from 'Brief Encounter'. "My mother wouldn't let me go out," she remembers ruefully, "she said 'you should be in bed, not hanging about Carnforth railway station.' " Lancaster Guardian 10th March 1995
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