February 2012 – Page 3 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pebble Mill flood – photos by Marie Phillips

Photo by Marie Phillips, no reproduction without permission.

In summer 1987 a massive water pipe ruptured in Selly Park and flooded the playing field, BBC Club, front car park and part of the Pershore Road.

The Club was out of action for several months, whilst the building dried out. The Club transferred back to the 2nd floor of the Pebble Mill office block whilst the refurbishment took place.

The photo shows the flooded playing fields, with the Club building visible in the bottom left hand corner, and the Pershore Road behind. It was taken from the main office block.

Pebble Mill at One – photos from Jane McLean

Photos from Jane McLean, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are from Maggie Walne’s (nee Kidger) leaving party, from ‘Pebble Mill at One’. It looks as if the party was held in the Pebble Mill Bar.

Back L-R: Carol Morgan and Judy Hill’s husband (Roy Winston); Maggie Walne with arm around Dave Williams. Steve Weddle at back. Clare Stride in front of him. John Stride with beard. It is Mick Murphy in the dicky bow. Sitting L-R: David Walker (Lis’s husband), Annie Morris, Judy Hill, Yvonne Ackrill, me (Jane McLean) in dungarees, Ellie’s boyfriend, Ellie Lacey, friend of Maggie (Cynthia), Pam Creed. Lis Walker on floor.

In the second photo are Donny McLeod, Jim Dumighan, Peter Hercombe, Bob Langley.

Golden Oldie Picture Show – Living Doll

Photo by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

‘Golden Oldie Picture Show’ was an entertainment show, comprising of specially shot videos, recorded for hits which pre-dated the music video era. The show was presented 7 linked by Radio 1 D.J., Dave Lee Travis. It was produced by John King’s department at Pebble Mill between 1985-88.

The photo is of a shoot for the hit: ‘Living Doll’, written by Lionel Bart, and made famous by Cliff Richard in 1959. I’m assuming that the photo is of someone ‘being’ Cliff Richard.

Asian Unit Photo

The photo dates from the early 1980s, and is possibly from Mahendra Kaul’s leaving party. It includes from left to right: Yousuf Aziz, Christine Hardman, Mahendra Kaul, Ashok Rampal, Jayne Savage, Karen Hewson, Krishan Gould and Bridget Catherine Vaughan.

Airbase – photos from Janice Rider

‘Airbase’ was a ‘Play on One’, which was produced at Pebble Mill and transmitted in 1988. David Attwood was the director, Roger Gregory and Keith Williams the producers. Malcolm McKay wrote the script. It was recorded in Studio A.

The drama was set over ‘four days in the life of Madeline Kohler, a young female American Air Force officer, who is posted to the all-male world of a U.S. airbase in Britain’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/426153.

The play starred Anton Lesser, Clive Mantle, Catherine Russell, David Lansbury, Ricco Ross, Stevan Rimkus, Norman Beaton.

Thanks to Costume Designer, Janice Rider, for making the photos available.

Paul Vanezis left the following comment on the Pebble Mill Facebook page: ”Airbase’ was the first BBC production I attended whilst at film school. Roger Gregory organised it for me. The production had been started in the summer of 1987, but generally it was felt that the lighting wasn’t right and it was remounted between Christmas and New Year a few months later. It was a great experience; I was there for all 5 days of the recording and was able to walk round the set. It was a full size replica of an F1-11 bomber (although the tail section was slightly shorter so it would fit in Studio A). The other sets were built around it. I kept all the camera scripts and rehearsal scripts and made notes and drawings of the set-ups next to the action in the script. It was also early use of a Steadicam in a TV studio; the operator was Peter Cavaciuti who had worked on ‘Aliens’ the year before, as had actor Ricco Ross who also starred. Director David Attwood asked Peter if he could make his shot “more wobbly”, and Peter asked why he was using a steadicam for a wobbly shot!’