Jon Auty remembers deceased British Stunt Register members with credits from the Bonds

By: Jon Auty

Published:
2025-12-16

In Memoriam, James Bond, stunt professionals, Jon Auty

Once again, we come to the close of another yearend it seems appropriate to reflect on those who’ve left us over the last few years from the Stunt Community. After the passing of Dinny Powell in June 2023, we have lost five further members of the British Stunt Register with track records on the Bond films.

In 2023, we first lost Richard Hammatt on 24th March at the age of 75, then on 27th November Chris Webb aged of 86. In 2024, we sadly lost Terry Maidment on 11th July aged 92, and Nick Hobbs on 29th December. This year, we sadly lost Tony Van Silva on 9th December aged 76.

In Memoriam stuntman & coordinator Chris Webb (1937-2023)

Chris Webb was a member of the stunt register since the early days and a man who was highly respected within the community and in the action capitols around the world. His first outing on a Bond was in 1965 for Thunderball. Recruited by stunt coordinator Bob Simmons, Chris would find himself in around the action on Largo’s island during the power-cut shoot out.

The following year, he was brought to the newly built volcano on the backlot at Pinewood Studios to slide down ropes with the rest of the ninjas to stop Blofeld from destroying the world. The movie was You Only Live Twice (1967). For saying that the stunt team would be over one hundred feet up their training area was just over twenty feet high. All ropes and harnesses were tested there before arriving on the set. This sequence is one of the most breathtaking in any Bond adventure.

By 1968, Chris was again called up for active Bond service alongside stunt arranger George Leech who was at the helm for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) alongside George Lazenby as 007. One of Chris’s roles in the picture would be to double for George during the cable car sequence, and to be involved in the final Piz Gloria battle.

Sean Connery’s return in 1971 for Diamonds Are Forever brought with it a new Blofeld in Charles Gray and a new way of disposing of him during the pre-title sequence. Being strapped to a trolley and pushed into boiling lava is a pretty gruesome way to go, but when Chris agreed to do the job, he wasn’t initially aware of the mask he’d have to wear. This had been created as the camera angle was originally such that it would show Chris’s face quite clearly. A mask aided by Chris’s outstretched arm save the sequence, but when he hit the lunge safety teams were sent in to pull him clear and make sure he was breathing properly. Visually exciting but very dangerous without the help of the safety team.

After many years of working on other film and television projects he was back to Pinewood and Bond in 1976 for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Perhaps the biggest Bond adventure of them all. The 007 Stage was built to house the submarines taken by Stromberg. It was also the location for a huge fire fight involving every available stuntman in the UK.

Octopussy in 1982 saw Chris take on a role as an armed guard escorting Bond out of the airbase he has wandered into in order to sabotage it. The very famous scene has Bond in the back of an open lorry being watched by two armed guards. Chris and fellow stuntman Nick Hobbs. When Bonds beautiful assistant, driving a Land Rover pulling a horse box, pulls alongside the truck carrying Bond, she distracts the armed guards with her, very obvious charms. Allowing Bond to rush them and pull the rip cords on their parachutes... Yes, it bothered Chris too at the time. I asked him if there was an explanation for these guards to be wearing parachutes. He simply said, “It’s a Bond movie, they could have asked me to wear a tutu and high heels... I’d still have done it.”

The following outing was Roger Moore’s last as Bond, and Chris found himself getting soaked by huge tip-tanks with thousands of gallons of water for A View to a Kill (1985). Another incredible sequence where Chris was not only getting washed away, but he was also falling from the roof during the explosions.

1986 brought a new Bond in Timothy Dalton and a new adventure for Chris who found himself in Morocco in the jail sequence and the airfield battle.

His final Bond outing was for Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997 with his fourth James Bond, Pierce Brosnan. Finding himself in and around the TV broadcast from the Carver Media Network whilst Bond is beaten up and then in the wonderful car park chase.

In 2022 Chris received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Stunt Register.

Chris Webb, In Memoriam, stuntman

In Memoriam stuntman and stunt coordinator Richard Hammatt (1947-2023)

Bond fans will recognize Richard Hammatt as the driver of the Perrier Truck in GoldenEye in 1995. The truck was firstly driven into position then the trailer was replaced by a prepared trailer that was cut through and had detonators placed at its hinges. So that the moment the tank, driven by Bond, hits the side of the truck, it breaks into two pieces allowing the tank to pass through and scatter the cans of sparkling water everywhere.

Richard was also involved in the pre-title sequence for The World Is Not Enough (1999) in the restaurant sequence where Bond drives through on route to the O2.

Richard Hammatt, In Memoriam, stuntman

In Memoriam stunt performer Terry Maidment (1932-2024)

A very busy stuntman and bit part actor during his career. Terry Maidment’s only outing with Bond was on The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 when he was one of the guards killed during the assault on the Liparus.

In Memoriam stunt performer Nick Hobbs (1945-2024)

Nick Hobbs started his Bond career, as many did, on The Spy Who Loved Me. A jobbing stuntman who found himself on the biggest sound stage in the world at the time. In 1982, he worked on the pre-title sequence of Octopussy with Chris Webb as the other parachute wearing armed guard.

The same year, he worked on the Sean Connery Bond outing Never Say Never Again (1983) at Elstree Studios during the fire fight.

A View to a Kill saw Nick inside the mine being washed away with the other stunt performers thanks to stunt coordinator Martin Grace.

GoldenEye in 1995 gave Nick an opportunity to put on another uniform. This time as a Russian soldier during the pre-title sequence and for the tank chase through the streets of St Petersburg.

Nick Hobbs posthumously received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Stunt Register in 2025.

Nick Hobbs, In Memoriam, stuntman

In Memoriam stunt performer Tony Van Silva (1949-2025)

Tony Van Silva’s first outing with James Bond was on The World Is Not Enough in 1999. He found himself spending a day on the fish market where Bond crashes through with the Q Boat.

Finally, after years of working on other TV and Film projects he was asked by stunt coordinator Gary Powell to join the production for Skyfall (2012). In particular, he would double Albert Finney for the firefight and all the outdoor sequences at the end of the movie.

Tony Van Silva, In Memoriam, stuntman

Portrait of stunt performer Tony Van Silva. All rights reserved.

The From Sweden with Love team sends our sincere condolences to the familys and friends of these great stunt professionals.

Text by Jon Auty. Copyright © 2025 From Sweden with Love. All rights reserved.

Photo on top
Stunt performer Tony Van Silva dressed as Kincade in Skyfall to double for actor Albert Finney.

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