Chem. Lab. Mystery, The – Nostalgia Central

1 9 6 3 (UK)
6 x 25 minute episodes

Debuting on 5 January 1963, this children’s mystery series from the BBC ran every Saturday for six weeks.

Written by David Turner (a scriptwriter for The Archers), the series was set in a modern co-ed comprehensive school in the Midlands.

The central location of the “mystery” was the chemistry laboratory (the “chem. lab.” of the title).

Here, during a lesson on qualitative analysis, Twink (Derek Williams), the dunce of the third form, is discovered to have gold in the mixture in his test tube.

Had he stumbled on a secret formula for making gold? Had someone put gold leaf in his mixture for a joke? Or was there a more sinister explanation?

Co-stars included Peter Sallis as Mad Willy the boilerman, Dandy Nichols as Mrs Dukes the cleaner, Manning Wilson as Mr Lions the science master (pictured), Reginald Smith as Twink’s pal, Wally, and Natasha Pyne as sixth former Susan.

Mad Willy
Peter Sallis
Twink
Derek Williams
Susan
Natasha Pyne
Harry
Nigel Anthony
Wally
Reginald Smith
Mr Lions
Manning Wilson
Mrs Dukes
Dandy Nichols
Bugs
Roy Holder
Mr Arthurs
John Quentin
Roy
Bunny May
Wilson
Anthony Singleton
Miss Gibson
Margaret Elliott
Baggy Brown
Ian Percy
Jennifer
Delia Walker
Headmaster
Kevin Stoney
Gillian
Gay Parsons