August 2014 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Vote for Them – cast and crew

This photo shows some of the cast and crew of the 1989, three part drama: Vote for Them, written by David Edgar and Neil Grant. The drama was shot on location in the UK and Egypt. Carol Parks was the producer and James Ormerod, the director.

Please add a comment if you can identify anyone in the photograph, or can add more information. I think it is Alastair (Duncan?) central in the white hat.

Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider, for making the photo available.

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

Terry Powell: ‘Yes that’s me with hair and very bright shorts I loved the show so much with my dear friend Janice rider I have lots of pics and will look them out.’

Janice Rider: ‘Yes it is in Egypt and is Alastair in the foreground. Paul Higton profile in white shirt & long trousers. Me in headscarf and black & white long skirt, Karen Thomas in White vest & shorts on the extreme right. Back left in white hat James Ormerod the director and yes, dear Terry always stylish in the desert!’

Neil Grant: ‘Could be Billy Hartman, fourth from the right, in the foreground?’

Official Opening – free lunch

This memo was sent to staff at BBC Pebble Mill in autumn 1971. All staff, including artists and freelancers who were working on the day of the Official Opening of Pebble Mill on 10th November 1971, were to be given a free lunch, including a glass of wine, to celebrate the occasion. For their free ticket, staff just had to fill in the slip at the bottom of the memo. The Broadcasting Centre was opened by Princess Anne.

(It’s noticeable from the memo how official abbreviated job titles were habitually used, you don’t see that today).

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Judith Markall: ‘I remember this and my mom Elsie Brown was in the line up to be introduced to Princess Anne. I have the photo somewhere that was in the Birmingham Mail.’

David Copperfield

This BBC serial of Dickens’s novel David Copperfield, was transmitted in 1986. Barry Letts was the director, with Terence Dicks the producer. Bob Chaplin was lighting director, Gavin Davies the production designer, Ann Arnold the costume designer, Maggie Thomas the make-up designer, Nigel Evans was the VT editor, and Alastair Askham the sound supervisor.

David Copperfield was played as a child by David Dexter, Nolan Hemmings, when slightly older, and as an adult by Colin Hurley. Jeremy Brudenell played Steerforth, Reggie Oliver played Mr Mell, and Simon Callow played Mr Micawber.

Thanks to the BBC Drama Village for sharing the photo.

East titles

These title grabs are from the Asian current affairs show: East. It was the sister show to Network East and went out during the summer. It tended to be more documentary based. The show was made at BBC Pebble Mill during the 1990s.

Thanks to VT editor, Ian Collins, for making the still available.

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

Terry Barker: ‘I remember it well as I was working for Narendhra Morar at the time.’

Sarah Dunning: ‘I think Gary Vollans was the graphic designer?’

Glynn Christian Recipe from Pebble Mill at One

These recipes from TV chef, Glynn Christian, were featured on Pebble Mill at One in January 1982. The combination of celeriac and mint flan, carrot and ginger flan, shoulder of lamb with red pepper, accompanied by a puree of parsnips and basil sound like a good wholesome winter meal. Notice how all the measurements are imperial, rather than metric. The recipe sheets could be ordered by viewers, and sent out to them.

Thanks to floor manager, Eurwyn Jones, for sharing these recipes.

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

Jane Mclean: ‘Those wanting recipes had to send in an SAE. We typed them out as above, photocopied them and rammed the envelopes. Not even PM headed paper! A tad removed from today and logging on to slash/recipe. Oh the glamour.’

Jane Clement: ‘The joys of life pre-computers, when it was all typewriters and carbon paper. So much fun, especially on a daily, live to air show that changed all the time. Bits of screwed-up paper everywhere and much swearing.’

Steve Weddle: ‘Absolutely. Incidentally I first stumbled upon Glynn Christian when I was researching an item on the Mutiny On The Bounty – he was actually a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian and had written a book on it. So I also tracked down a direct descendant of William Bligh too, Captain of the Bounty, and then let them slug it out in the foyer. On the way back to hospitality Glynn mentioned to me that he was something of a cook, and because he’d performed well I managed to persuade the powers that be to allow him back for a cookery demo. That was followed by a series of six – I’d never researched or produced cookery items before – very much the preserve of Steph Silk and Mary Clyne – and it was a bit of nightmare for me. Not my thing at all. So I was almost relieved when the newly launched Breakfast Time moved in and whisked Glynn away for him to become their regular on screen cook. How he must have loved those early mornings!’