When those early film pioneers arrived in a small rural village called Boreham Wood, in the parish of Elstree, one hundred years ago , they began a unique legacy of motion picture production and wrapped our town in that 'ribbon of dreams' as Orson Welles once described movies. Later, television production added to the huge output from the studios of Borehamwood. Over the decades the six studios have created stars, seen the final bows of some cinema greats and made screen magic. Cult TV series such as The Avengers and The Prisoner along with history-making movies as Hitchcock's Blackmail and blockbusters like Star Wars have made our town world famous. We have a historical legacy of which to be proud and an exciting future ahead of us, so let us all celebrate this special centenary.

I am so pleased to see that Elstree Screen Heritage will be celebrating the Centenary of film-making at the studios that Jim Henson's Muppets came to call home for five wonderful years.

It was at Elstree - Borehamwood that Miss Piggy became a star, Statler and Waldorf became famous for their barbed comments and obstreperous behaviour and all of us working on The Muppet Show enjoyed the camaraderie and craftsmanship of the studio crew.

It was very exciting to imagine scenes from Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Alfred Hitchcock productions that were performed on its sound stages. Now you are bringing some of that history to your visitors. I wish you great success in telling the story of filming in what is a very special place for me.

Elstree and Borehamwood have been at the heart of British film and television history for 100 years, home to so much important creative endeavour in front of and behind the cameras. It is a rich and valuable heritage that urgently needs to be preserved and shared.

Well done Elstree Screen Heritage – and the people of Elstree and Borehamwood! Taking pride in our film industry (past and present) is vital if we are to keep film-making, the cinema and their marvellous shared heritage alive. This year’s Oscars showed what a knock-out film industry the UK has created; we need to celebrate our industry, raise its profile and encourage the next generation.

If BAFTA ever decides to give an award for a community that got right behind its cinema heritage and raised it up then the work of the people of Elstree and Borehamwood would be one of the strongest contenders.

The centenary of film making in Elstree and Borehamwood is important not just to recognise achievements which can be tracked right to the beginnings of cinematography but also to highlight that the industry has and continues to be crucial to the local, regional and UK economy.

The celebrations and events marking the 100th anniversary show how strong remains the commitment to supporting film and television-making. The programme of events and attractions for this year is really exciting and I urge local businesses and the community to get involved.

There has been a station on the site of the current Elstree & Borehamwood station since July 1868, a good ten years before the first motion picture ever made, so it’s very likely that many of
the first actors, directors and technicians who launched the embryonic film industry in Elstree & Borehamwood back in 1914 arrived there by train. 100 years later Elstree & Borehamwood
station remains a vital gateway to the studios and the rest of the community.

First Capital Connect has been an active supporter of Elstree & Borehamwood’s film making and television production heritage for several years; we even have a train named ‘Elstree Studios’. We are proud to continue our support in this centenary year

Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council is very pleased to be able to support Elstree Screen Heritage and play our part in celebrating this wonderful centenary of 100 years of film making in the area. On behalf of Elstree & Borehamwood Council and all our residents I take this opportunity to thank the Elstree Screen Heritage team for all the hard work they put in.

Hertsmere Borough Council is proud of its long association with local film and television activity, not only as owner of Elstree Studios since 1996 but on behalf of the residents of Hertsmere
and far beyond who owe so much to the creative efforts of all the studios over the past hundred years.