The Brothers

[Roy Galloway]

Who remembers the 1970's classic drama series The Brothers. It was about a haulage business run by the Hammond family drawn into conflict after the founder's death. It starred Jean Anderson as the founders widow Mary Hammond, her three sons Edward (Glyn Owen later Patrick O'Connell), Brian (Richard Easton) and David (Robin Chadwick). Jennifer Wilson played Jennifer Kingsley the founders mistress, Gabrielle Drake played Jill Hammond (David Hammond's wife) Hilary Tindell was Brian Hammond's difficult wife, Derek Benfield played Bill Riley, but the best of the lot was Paul Merroney, played by actor Colin Baker. Merroney was oilier than JR and soon became the nastiest man on television and Colin played the part tremendously. Incidentally, Paul Merroney is the second all time best baddie after JR Ewing because he was believable, convincing and never went over the top unlike todays soap baddies. Paul Merroney was what you call one of those real baddies, just like the man himself J.R Ewing.

[Fellowes]

Yes, remember it well, mainly because I drove for the haulage company where it was filmed. The company was H.T.S. (Hiltons Transport Services) Bugsby Way, Charlton. London SE7. The name the BBC used was 'Hammond Transport Services'.



The buildings are still there, although not the company. I watched a lot of the filming, along with the rest of the Drivers, and we were all amazed how all the actors, no matter how short their lines were, had the greatest of difficulty rembering them, and we the drivers became so frustrated as we wanted them to finish and get out of our way, we used to prompt them off camera!



Bob.

[Geoffers]

name='Roy Galloway']Who remembers the 1970's classic drama series The Brothers. It was about a haulage business run by the Hammond family drawn into conflict after the founder's death. It starred Jean Anderson as the founders widow Mary Hammond, her three sons Edward (Glyn Owen later Patrick O'Connell), Brian (Richard Easton) and David (Robin Chadwick). Jennifer Wilson played Jennifer Kingsley the founders mistress, Gabrielle Drake played Jill Hammond (David Hammond's wife) Hilary Tindell was Brian Hammond's difficult wife, Derek Benfield played Bill Riley, but the best of the lot was Paul Merroney, played by actor Colin Baker.

Good to see the first series is now available on DVD. I was a fan of the programme but was surprised long after it finished to discover Patrick O'Connell was not the original Edward. I had no memory at all of Glyn Owen playing the role (though I know he did) and almost convinced myself I had missed the entire first series. However, I could not have done because I can remember the reading of the founder's will when it became apparent he had left a share in the business to his mistress.