BBC Staff Photo 2004
This photo was taken just before the closure of Pebble Mill in 2004. It was taken from the roof of the building with everyone assembled on the back lawn.
More staff than anticipated turned up, and so the ‘C’ had to have a double line of people.
You’ll also notice quite a few children in the photo, brought over from the Pebble Mill Staff Nursery, which was housed in a small wooden pavilion just a little way down the Bristol Road.
Studio C Walkway Sign
This sign used to hang on the walkway at the back of Studio C at Pebble Mill. Studio C was originally the entrance foyer, which was then converted into the studio for Pebble Mill at One. It was later used for Good Morning with Anne and Nick. At the back of the foyer was a corridor which led to Studio A, Make Up and the dressing rooms. This corridor had to be closed when Studio C was being used, so that people weren’t walking through the back of shot. When the Studio was in use only the top sign was displayed, with the lower one being taken up and down, depending on whether you were allowed to walk through or not.
The sign was rescued by James Patterson from Pebble Mill before it was demolished and is now proudly displayed in the Post Production area of BBC Birmingham, in the Mailbox, next to the sink and the drinks machine!
50 Years of Broadcasting first day cover
Pebble Mill 10th Anniversary first day cover
There were two ‘First Day Covers’ issued by the Royal Mail to commemorate anniversaries at Pebble Mill.
The first dates back to September 1972, and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the BBC. Special BBC stamps were produced. The stamp on the first envelope cost only 3p! The logo for this website is inspired from the ‘First Day Cover’ stamp on the envelope.
The second ‘First Day Cover’ marks the 10th birthday of BBC Pebble Mill, and dates from 10th Nov 1981. The price of the stamp has gone up to 14p by this time!
Thanks to Ian Collins from Post Production for making these available.
Scenic Workshop
Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen (Gus), no reproduction without permission.
These photos are of the Pebble Mill Scenic Workshop, where the studio sets were made. The Scenic Workshop opened onto Studio A, so that sets could easily be moved into place. You can see the studio doors in the lower photo.
Scenic Workshop
Photos by Lynda Kettle, no reproduction without permission. Lynda Kettle was a Production Designer at BBC Pebble Mill, working on factual, entertainment and drama shows in studio and on location. The photos were taken as records of the Sets.
Song for Christmas was an annual children’s carol competition, and part of Pebble Mill at One. Mark Kershaw was the director of the Song for Christmas shown in the photos, and David Weir was the producer. Lynda Kettle designed the set in Studio A. I’m not sure which year the photos are from, but probably 1985 0r 1986.
Production Designer, Lynda Kettle also worked as a theatre designer and an artist, and now runs courses from her art studio http://www.lynda-kettle.com. She is a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham Water Colour Society. Midland Pastel Society and Birmingham Art Circle . She exhibits her paintings several times a year at selected galleries.
Song for Christmas