October 2016 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Information leaflet on joining the Mailbox

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

Save

This is the leaflet which was given to all staff who were moving from Pebble Mill to the Mailbox towards the end of 2004.

The guidelines, like tidying away what was on your desk every day, did not work from the start, and very quickly the open plan areas had a busy, and rather cluttered look. Waste paper baskets were meant to be banned, but staff soon brought in their own, and personalised the office space!

In 2012 Television Network Production was moved from BBC Birmingham, to BBC Bristol, and the Mailbox became a much quieter and tidier place. Now the space houses many BBC staff, but few programme makers.

The following comment was added to the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Kathryn Shuttleworth: ‘With very little production staff and more back office & HR in residence it is a bit more like a call centre in places. You can certainly spot the programme makers desks amongst it all!’

Save

Last Pebble Mill at One – Five Star

This is a performance of Five Star on the last ever episode of Pebble Mill at One in 1986. The group dance in locations all round the Pebble Mill building, including the canteen, PBX, the roof, courtyard, and even the Pebble Mill at One production office.

Thanks to David Croxson for pointing out the video on YouTube.

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

Ruth Barretto: ‘I have to say it bought a tear to my eye. So loved working in this building. Many happy memories. I remember watching them rehearsing .’

Stuart Gandy: ‘Wow, Can’t beleive this is 30 years ago!. I remember this so well, especially the bit they did in comms centre.’

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘Looking at that you realise once again what an iconic building it was. Loved my time there.’

Dharmesh Rajput: ‘Love this! Great to see the building again – I don’t think I remember the quadrangle without the conservatory in it!’

Pete Simpkin: ‘Fantastic!…brings back so many memories after all this time….yes and the lump to the throat!…..and what brilliant editing. Just this one clip shows clearly why ‘The One Show’ is such a feeble imitation too!!!’

Claire Chambers: ‘The very talented Roger Casstles directed this – only he could make Pebble Mill look like a Miami backdrop ( well at the beginning -not the bit in the canteen!)I think I was the P.A.!!!! How many locations and shot variations has he used -excellent.’

Colin Pierpoint blog part 18 – Move From Pebble Mill

Copyright, Colin Pierpoint. My best office at Wood Norton.

Copyright Colin Pierpoint. Robin, seen from the office window.

This is the final part of Colin Pierpoint’s blog.

(After working at BBC Pebble Mill since it opened in 1971, Colin was eventually tempted away).

In June 1980 I got a permanent post as a Lecturer at the Engineering Training Department at Wood Norton, where I had had two previous attachments of a year. I was lucky. The Head of ETD had retired, and the new head was Dr Owen from the Open University, so on the Board I was able to talk about all the OU courses I was studying for my degree. In June 1980 I began my new career, but that didn’t mean that I left Pebble Mill for good. Part of my work was to bring courses of students on a regular trip to Droitwich transmitting station and Pebble Mill. Being recognised by staff I used to work with was very useful, and got us into all areas to see actual operational work going on. (Unlike the tours you get now; where, even if you are ex-staff you don’t even see inside a studio). One Christmas I sent boxes of chocolates to each department in appreciation of all the cooperation I had in the past. I expect they thought I had claimed them back on expenses, but in fact I paid for them myself. I was still well known at Pebble Mill on visits with my students because ex-colleagues who met me would often say “Have you been on leave? Kay Alexander said “What happened to my coffee?”

Colin Pierpoint

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

Stuart Gandy: ‘I remember my visit to Driotwich on my A course, but it was in autumn 1979, the year before you were there Colin. It was especially memorable because during that particular week, there had been some very bad weather and strong winds, which had actually blown down the long aerial wire that was fixed to the two masts. So you can imagine, there was a lot of activity going to to fix it. I remember they guys saying ..its not normally this busy!’

Save

Gosta Green Revisited event photos

Lez Cooke introducing the Gosta Green revisited screening

Lez Cooke, Peter Booth, Joyce Hawkins

Screen shot from The Newcomers

Save

These photos are from the recent Gosta Green Revisited screening held at the Midlands Arts Centre on 15th October 2016. The screening was introduced by academic Lez Cooke, who has been researching the seemingly forgotten dramas from the BBC Birmingham studios which preceded Pebble Mill. Three dramas were shown, and episode of Rainbow City, an episode of The Newcomers (shown here in the bottom photo), and a 30 min drama called Sinking Fish Move Sideways. These 1960s dramas were still surprisingly watchable.

The screening was followed by a discussion with costume designer Joyce Hawkins, and cameraman Peter (whose surname I’ve forgotten).

Save

A Blue Plaque for Pebble Mill?

Copyright Ben Peissel, no reproduction without permission

Let’s have a plaque for Pebble Mill.

If you walk down Pebble Mill Road today you won’t find any evidence this iconic Broadcasting Centre ever existed. It’s like it has been airbrushed from history. Now Gisela Stuart MP has promised to back our campaign to mark this once groundbreaking building with a blue plaque in the Road which bore its name. Standby for more campaign updates.

Steve Weddle

Save