Meet the Sandbach man who met The Beatles and worked on Coronation Street and Hollyoaks
By Deborah Bowyer
8th May 2024 | Local News
Sandbach man, John Scarrott, has fond memories of his days working on TV programmes like Coronation Street and Countdown.
He met and worked with all the stars and framed photos in the hall of his Ettiley Heath home give a clue to his illustrious past.
On another side of the hall is a copy of The Beatles' signatures along with photographs of the famous band.
John was lucky enough to be in the studio when The Beatles visited and got to meet them.
"I've always been a big fan," said John. "I still listen to their music now."
On another occasion, John got the chance to be part of the film crew for ITV filming Charles and Diana's wedding on The Mall.
"It was a real privilege to do that," said John who also remembers the day he got to film the band Simply Red for a video.
"That was an interesting day. Every day was different and fun. I had the best time in TV and I do miss the camaraderie."
Stars' names like Julie Goodyear tip off his tongue, almost too many for the talented cameraman and lighting director to remember.
John left Granada in 1998 and went to work on Brookside lighting and then Hollyoaks from 2001 until 2014.
He was always destined for a career in camera work for as a youngster he had a projector in the garden shed and invited friends for film showings.
"I have always loved anything to do with filming," said John who did photo and cinema photography at college before starting his career.
Nowadays, John is more at home using his camera skills for recording holidays or videos of his grandchildren growing up.
But John, who started off life as a trainee cameraman with Granada, hasn't forgotten his distinguished career.
He gives talks about his TV career to local groups but these days his directing skills are used for something else – railways.
John is chair of the Friends of Sandbach Station (FOSS) and just like his TV career, this work has gone from strength to strength.
Three years ago, the group got an old Sandbach station sign dating back to the 1950s renovated and installed it on to Platform Two at the station.
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