BBC training at Wood Norton
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Whilst we were training at Wood Norton we got the chance to learn a little about the other roles in a TV studio. We had a go at directing, vision mixing and camera operating. I enjoyed my brief time behind the camera. Mark Ward working hard in the background!
Kathryn Shuttleworth
Colin Fearnley 1986
Photo by Paul Scholes, no reproduction without permission.
Colin Fearnley worked at Pebble Mill in VT.
There is a story about why he has an axe in the head! Colin had been working on a youth programme with Janet Street Porter, circa 1986. Apparently it was a very quick turnaround, and a review of the programme said that it looked as if it had been edited by a mad axeman. This spawned a whole host of axe jokes! Colin was probably VT play in man. [See comment below from Colin Fearnley correcting this detail!]
Thanks to Tim Savage for remembering the story of the axes.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Group:
Paul Colbert: ‘Could have been Reportage or Rough Guides, both of which I worked on as series Director in Manchester with most of the production team commuting on trains and planes to Manchester. Editor J S Porter, with Rachael Purnell and Sharon Ali. Tough times for the production team, even harder than working with Roger Castles on The Clothes Show! London Luvvies!’
Jane Mclean: ‘Was it Behind the Beat? God I HATED working on that programme.’
Dawn Trotman: ‘Behind the Beat. I remember editing that. Crazy hours and Janet Street Porter constantly screaming down the phone. I think we edited it in mechanical workshop? Lovely directors though but stressed.’
Jane Mclean: ‘The stuff of nightmares Dawn – every single aspect – and I mean every! JSP never once came to Brum (thank god) and in the end I refused to answer the phone!’
Dawn Trotman: ‘It was actually a creative time. I worked with some very adventurous directors who did try to re invent the wheel and suceed. Tough going but good times. Not that JSP was of any value but she did surround herself with the best in the business no fool in that respect just very shouty!’
Ian Collins: ‘The Mad Axman nickname was actually given to Jim Hiscox who was the editor working on “Behind The Beat”. I think Colin was the assistant and the axe was added well after the picture was taken.’
Dawn Trotman: ‘I beg to differ Ian. The Mad axeman was originally given to John Bland for a film he cut in about 1983 or 4 . It was set in a military defence barracks very strange ! Can’t remember the name, I think the producer was a Gareth ? And John ended up with a review which said cut by the mad axeman on acid ! We keep the cutting in his room at the end of the film corridor. But I didnt remember Jim being on Behind the Beat I remember Colin working on it . He used to tut over our inserts.’
Ian Collins: ‘Dare I suggest that there were two mad axe men :-)’
Paul Colbert: ‘Surely John Birt was the Mad Axe Man?’
Photos by Marie Phillips, no reproduction without permission.
The photos show gardening and talk show presenter, Alan Titchmarsh, opening a Children in Need project, before sharing tea with the children involved.
It was Ulverley Green Special School in Olton, about 1996. CIN had paid for the equipment for a play area and raised plant beds. We took some cowslips for them. Alan was, as ever, brilliant and spent so much time with the children and mothers, although he did get told off for eating the pansies on the tea tables. He was just demonstrating that they were edible, but some of the mums thought it might encourage their kiddies to eat some plants which were not!! He was mortified and very apologetic but made a lovely speech to officially open the Project. I drove him there and must have scared the daylights out of him because he made the return journey with Gyn Freeman and the film crew – hee! hee!
Photos by Tim Savage, no reproduction without permission.
‘Pickwick Papers’ was a BBC drama series from 1985. It was hosted at Pebble Mill. The director was Brian Lighthill, the producer was Barry Letts and the script was written by Terrance Dicks. Bob Chaplin was the lighting designer, Sue Peck and costume designer, Gill Hughes the make-up designer and Myles Lang, the production designer.
The series starred Nigel Stock, Clive Swift (gardening presenter Joe Swift’s father), Jeremy Nicholas, Alan Parnaby, and Colin Douglas.
The first photo features Paul Higton from costume. The subsequent photos show a horse drawn carriage hired for the shoot. The location was a stately home near Telford.
In the carriage photos (l to r): John Couzens (camera) in navy jumper, centre in blue short-sleeved shirt, Elson Godbolt, Dick Bentley, second from right, it is probably David Robinson, to the right of Dick.
