July 2011 – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Bad Company – photo from John Greening

‘Bad Company’ was a two part drama based on the 1978 Carl Bridgewater murder case. The two parter was a dramatisation of the investigation into the murder of the 13 year old paper boy; the police case resulted in the conviction of four men in 1979. It was directed by David Drury, written by Don Shaw and produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr.

The photo includes (L to R) Ken Stott, Noel Paley, ? (focus puller), John Greening (1^st AD), Paul Gooch, Lesley Thomas (wardrobe), Chris Parr (producer) (behind post).

Other cast – George Irving, Jonnie Lee Miller, Susan Wooldridge, Brian McGrath, Mark Drewry.

Dawn Mears (Trotman) remembers working on the drama:

“I edited part 1 and John Rosser edited part 2. Adam Trotman was my assistant and Lynne Hawkins was John’s. It won an RTS. Bobbie Chapman was the PA nad David Drury the Director. It had a very strong cast, Ken Stott in particular was marvellous.”

‘Nobby Berghaus’s’ leaving do – photo by Laura McNeill

Photo by Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

This photo was taken on the occasion of ‘Nobby Berghaus’s’ leaving the BBC.

He’s being seen off the premises by Sound friends Andy Morton, Paul Scurrell, Paul Clarke and John Cole, in the BBC Pebble Mill bar!

Bird of Prey 2 – camera script front page

Thanks to Kevin Lakin for making this camera script available.

‘Bird of Prey 2’ was the sequel series to the 1982 conspiracy thriller of the same name. The series was written by Ron Hutchinson and produced at Pebble Mill, being transmitted in September 1984. It was a four part series about computer fraud, recorded in Studio A.

The series featured: Richard Griffiths as Henry Jay, Carole Nimmins as Anne Jay, Lee Montague as Roche, Jan Holden as Mrs Lucas and as Timothy Bateson as Mr Jorry, and Bob Peck as Greggory.

As you can see on the camera script, the series was directed by Don Leaver and produced by Bernard Krichefski.

Dawn Mears worked as an assistant editor on the series and remembers it well:

“It was my first break editing drama as Nigel Pardoe Matthews let me cut an episode all by myself! Andy Turley did the graphics which involved a computer game. Unheard of in those times . Ron Hutchinson was the writer I think. It was beautifully written, very clever. It was a studio drame with film inserts.”

Pebble Mill Pantomime – from Annie Gumbley

This photo shows the cast of a pantomime performed by members of the Pebble Mill staff. The pantomime was the Pied Piper which was a BBC Drama Club production and the show was put on at Cadburys.

The photo includes Pat Wareham, Ann Gumbley, Susie ?, Wendy Nelson, Annie ?, Polly Brain, Elaine Hercombe, Jane Hyde, and Jayne Savage.

Thanks to Annie for making the photo available.

Jayne Savage (on the right with the long hair), remembers the club well:

“Drama Club productions were a regular thing – I would say annually during the early/mid 70s. The first one I can remember was a review which included tiller girls and a very energetic can can which was performed at the Crescent Theatre. Rather worryingly I don’t remember Pied Piper! The production that stands out for me was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat which ran for several nights at Cadbury’s and then had 2 performances at Malvern. The final one I think was How to Succeed in Business… at the Old Rep. Rita Cashmore who choreographed was brilliant at organising a very ‘mixed’ collection of dancers. Anybody who wanted to take part could, and it was a lot of fun.”

Gail Herbert was also a keen Drama Club member:

“I used to be involved with some of these epics. I remember being the back end of the cow in Godspell – Peter Hercombe was at the front! We trod the boards at Malvern I seem to remember. Real laugh.”

Costume and Design – photos by Laura McNeill

Photographs copyright of Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

These photos feature various costume and design staff at Pebble Mill, amongst others – mostly taken at parties. They include: Terry Powell, Paul Gooch, Ray Holman, Peter Lloyd, John Ellis, Jacqui Pratt, Maggie Thomas, Diane Lester, Al Barnett, Tracey, Sally Holden, Cathy Ayerst, Lesley Thomas, Carl Dolan, Conrad Fletcher.