Thanks from Holly

She moved us all with her portrayal of bereaved girlfriend Holly during Series 30; now the actress herself offers thanks: "Hi Simon, It's Rebecca-Anne Withey here - Holly Parsons in case you'd forgotten :) Now the frenzy of my second and final series has died down, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to contact you and thank you for such wonderful coverage on Holly and her time at Grange Hill. I am proud to have been received so well by both hearing and deaf viewers, and I can only hope that I've spread a little bit of deaf awareness during the two series. In case you weren't aware, this week is actually Deaf Awareness Week! :) There's some coverage of a deaf awareness campaign I did here: http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=4321

Hi Rebecca and thanks for taking the time to write! And congratulations on your moving, inspiring and sincere portrayal of Holly during the last two series of the Hill. Nice to hear that RAWdance is coming along so well and good luck with your graduation; we hope you won't be off our TV screens for too long either! Once again our very best wishes and hope you continue to enjoy GH Online!

A Stateside Grange Hill fan

Grange Hill's fan base is worldwide - but not everyone can see it, as Nicole from New York tells us: "Hi, My name is Nicole and I am a large fan of Grange Hill. The shocker is that I've never seen the show in my life........haha. I live in New York so it is impossible for me to well actually see the show. But everytime I go on the computer I always save time for me to see the videos you post up. I feel as though Grange Hill is a fantastic show and I am dying for it to come out of DVD. I would definitely buy it...lol I feel as though as a thirteen year old girl going to a private school I have somewhat a connection with the kids at Grange Hill. I don't have money due to the fact I'm on a scholarship, and I don't have the sense of adventure the kids at Grange do. I believe that I have the same family problems and educational difficulties. I am dying to watch the show for real from series one to series thirty. Please let me know if the DVD comes out I would be the happiest girl in the world, it would make my year...lol"

Matthew writes: "Dear Simon, A wonderful site. Well done on some great work. As a 32 year old I’m afraid I no longer watch the show (shocked to find out it's filmed in the north west!) but some memories are brought back. I’m not sure if you’re interested or not but Tuckers Luck was filmed around a few locations of Ealing and Harrow. I remember being in a small church hall for a family thing some years ago in Ealing/Hanwell but I just have no idea where it is specifically. However, if it’s of help, I do know that the Harrow Leisure Centre on Wealdstone’s Christchurch Road was used for some locations (both int and ext) which can be found here. I believe they resigned it as Darrow or Farrow or something equally daft. You will find it here...

"There was a nearby corner shop at the Masons Avenue juncture which was also featured. I believe it was Byron Hall (which probably is no longer there) which I vaguely recall was used for some roller skating shots. That’s probably of no help at all but I thought I’d like you to know anyway. P.S. The claim to fame of my brother in law was he appeared as an extra in the show during its first or second season!" Hi Matthew and thanks for the info. Our Locations pages are managed by Geoff Phillips and I'm afraid I don't know whether he plans to include Tucker's Luck locations but I've forwarded your e-mail to him. The latest series of Grange Hill was the fifth to be made in Liverpool, and the two remaining London characters, Kathy and Martin, have now departed.

Poppy pops up to say hi!

"Hello, my name's Ayesha Antoine. I used to play Poppy Silver in Grange Hill between 1992-1996 (I think?) (1995-98 actually Ayesha! Webmaster). and have recently been in contact with Melanie Joseph who recommended coming online instead of unleashing a whole heap of questions on her: 'How about Peter (Morton)?', 'Have you heard from Natalie (Tapper)?', 'And what about...and so on?' I'm still acting, soon to be appearing at the Almeida Theatre in Islington, but like most actors I tend to keep myself busy between jobs; hence the address this is coming from (I'm doing a spot of office work). I'm more than happy to help our in any way and stuff. Thanks again; it's so cool that there is a way we can all get together and catch up and stuff - like a real school reunion!"

Staying in the mid-1990s Belinda Crane, aka Lucy Mitchell, did not have copies of her Grange Hill episodes until we stepped in: "Thanks so much for the DVDs of my episodes; I can't express how grateful I am!!! I have watched a few already, and boy does it bring back some memories! All good ones of course!!! Shame the acting wasn't better, but what can you expect from a bunch of 12-year olds. Look forward to watching more when we get settled in the new house. My mum will be so pleased (you know what mums are like)" Hi Belinda - glad you enjoyed the discs. Perhaps we're biased as Grange Hill fans but you've really no need to reproach yourself about the acting; it was you they chose over 300 other girls and you really were an asset to the show. Good luck with the house move and stay in touch!

Ami Elliot writes to tell us about her teacher: "Hi, we have recently seen a comment on your site about someone inquiring after John Harris who played Loop Wind. After seeing this we knew who you were on about straight away! Currently John Harris is working at the Dukeries College in Ollerton, Nottinghamshire as a very successful drama teacher. Recently he has been involved in the NT national connexions with his AS students. He is highly thought of and is a great Cockney boy. Hope this helps. I have attached a picture, he is the one in the green."

Thanks Ami - hope you like our "now and then" graphic! John isn't the only Grange Hill graduate to become a teacher - David Straun, who played maths teacher Mr King in the 1980s is now a head of drama at a school in Bristol. Lee Cornes, who you might remember as Mr Hankin, is a qualified science teacher in real life and is rumoured to do supply teaching between acting jobs. Thanks for the pic - hope you don't mind John!