February 2012 – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Recording Sound Effects for the Archers

Photo from Gill Powell, no reproduction without permission.

The photo shows sound recordists Lee Harrigan and Rob Taylerson, in the Pebble Mill car park making a recording of Carl Dolan’s car engine for when Eddie Grundy went stock car racing in ‘The Archers’.

Gordon Astley adds the following comment on the Facebook Page: ‘recording Archers FX was my first job when I joined Broad Street in’69. I believe we played them in on one of the 1st Mellotrons. John Lennon had the first. Do I remember correctly? I have dined out on it ever since .’

Pebble Mill paper-weight

Thanks to Marie Phillips for making the paper-weight available.

Marie Phillips was secretary to Pebble Mill, Senior Personnel and Admin Manager, Andy Tylee, for five years and to Senior Human Resources Manager, Bridget Allen, for one year, in the 1980s. The Pebble Mill paper-weights date from the 1980s, and were produced as corporate gifts for visitors.

Empire Road – Janice Rider

Video interview with costume designer Janice Rider, about working on the drama series: Empire Road. Empire Road was produced at Pebble Mill by Peter Ansorge and written by Michael Abbensetts. It was the first soap opera in Britain with a black and asian cast, starring Norman Beaton.

Radio Times 1979

Arthur Heywood – photo from Jane McLean

The photo is of a 1980 Pebble Mill at One shoot in Hong Kong. In the photo are L-R: two unknowns; Jane McLean; John Gilbert; Nigel Davey; John Smith; John Williams; Arthur Heywood.

Thanks to Jane McLean for making this photo available.

Arthur Heywood was a Gaffer at BBC Birmingham from the early/mid 1960s until the 1980s.

Arthur died on Feb 7, 2012.

Colleagues who remember him fondly left the following comments on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Jane McLean: ‘One of my very favourite people. Had an amazing trip to Hong Kong and China with him in the 80s. He bought enough furniture out there to furnish a house .. then had to pay at least twice as much to get it shipped back here.’

Carol Churchill: ‘How sad worked with Arthur on lots of dramas and spent many jolly evenings in pubs with him and crew.’

Lesley Weaver: ‘We were only talking about Arthur the other day. That’s very sad he was such a lovely man & adorably cheeky ! I agree Carol lots of jolly times were shared with him. God bless you Arthur! X’

Janice Rider: ‘Simply a lovely man . Very sad’

Ivor Williams on location – photos by Ian Collins

Photos by Ian Collins, no reproduction without permission.

The photos show Pebble Mill VT Editor Ivor Williams ‘working’ on location at an outside broadcast.

It was when Ivor got his job as an Editor. The location was Leicester Velodrome, where the crew were based for 2 weeks to cover the cycling. The photo is probably from the mid ’80s.

Thanks to Ian Collins for providing the information.