December 2013 – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

An amazing place to work – Andy Tylee

Original foyer At Pebble Mill

The Queen visiting the Pebble Mill at One foyer studio in 1981. Photo from Keith Brook.

The Queen visiting Pebble Mill at One foyer studio in 1981. Phil Sidey in front of the stepladder. Photo from Keith Brook.

I worked at Pebble Mill between 1979 and 1987. It didn’t actually feel like going to work – more like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. It was supposed to have been the Midlands’ white elephant, but Phil Sidey in particular and the staff in general ensured that the place soared above that position. Phil was an unpredictable, iconoclastic genius and polymath who for me personified the very best of the BBC’s creative, risk taking spirit. His invention of daily live TV from the foyer, rather than a studio made the atmosphere in the building crackle with excitement and tension. It was a genuinely amazing place to work.

The BBC’s decision to shut and demolish was an act of insane vandalism. The Mailbox is risible by comparison.

Outside Broadcast VT area

Photo by John Burkill, no reproduction without permission.

This photo dates from December 1985. It shows the VT area of an outside broadcast truck, probably CM2. You can see the 1″ machine in the centre of the photo, and probably a U-matic VT machine lower down to the right.

(Thanks to Chris Harris and Peter Poole for adding in information).

Bryan Comley added the following comment on the Pebble Mill Facebook page: ‘This is the VT end of CM2, the VT machines are Ampex VPR2b’s with a shared TBC. The audio tape m/c I think is a Studer.’

Morning Surgery

Morning Surgery was a factual medical show presented by GP, Dr Mark Porter, and Lydia Thomas. The aim was to take the mystery out of medical matters. It was a spin off programme from Good Morning with Anne and Nick, where Dr Mark Porter was a regular contributor on medical phone-ins. The show went out in June and September 1993. The show was recorded in Studio C, the Foyer.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:

Sarah Dunning: ‘Tony Fisher’s logo design methinks?’

Sue Robinson: ‘I directed it but I can’t remember ANYTHING about who else worked on it or when it went out! The one thing I do remember is that Mark and Lydia used to get the most ridiculous giggles about virtually all of the more “sensitive” subjects. It was great fun.’

Helen Taylor: ‘I certainly do, I produced it!!! It was a 15 minute programme and for some reason I remember doing an item on febrile convulsions! Absolutely remember Sue directing and I think Tony did design the logo. Claire Stride nursed me through my first foray into producing.’

Jane Maclean: ‘I was the PA! And even before I read Sue’s comment, my first thought was Mark and Lydia completely corpsing. Other than that, can’t remember….’

Immigrants’ Programmes Unit

This BBC article can be found on the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/4/newsid_2540000/2540633.stm

The Immigrants Programme Unit began in 1965, combining both a radio and television service for newly arrived Asian immigrants. The BBC Birmingham Unit was based at Carpenter Road in Edgbaston.

The following comment was added on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:

Pete Simpkin: ‘When Radio Birmingham started in 1970 we used to rebroadcast this series as well.’

Same Old Smile

Harvey Andrew, copyright resides with the original holder

Harvey Andrews, copyright resides with the original holder

Here’s some audio from Same Old Smile. This was a regional TV programme featuring the Birmingham singer Harvey Andrews. The music was recorded at Pebble Mill. He performed the songs to playback in various Birmingham locations.

Thanks to Peter Poole, for keeping the audio, and sharing it.