There were six heads of Pebble Mill during the building’s lifetime, although some were Heads of Network TV, rather than Head of Building. Their tenure seems to get progressively shorter. This information was taken from the BBC Written Archives in Caversham. They were:
Phil Sidey – 1972-82 Head of Building
David Waine – 1983-1992 Head of Building
Rod Natkiel – 1992-1998 Head of Network Television
Kate Marsh – 1998-2001
Paresh Solanki – 2001-2002
Tessa Finch – 2002- end of Pebble Mill
Phil Sidey (right). Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
David Waine. Copyright resides with the original holder no reproduction without permission
Rod Natkiel. Copyright resides with the original holder
Paresh Solanki. Copyright resides with the original holder
Kate Marsh. Copyright resides with the original holder
Tessa Finch. Copyright resides with the original holder
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Lynne Cullimore: “My favourite is – Phil Sidey who put Pebble Mill on the map! and I liked David Waine who was a very nice man.”
Jane Upston: “I was there during David Waine’s tenure and part of Rod Natkiel’s. I worked in HR (was Jane Morgan then). The people I remember most though were Colin Adams and Jock Gallagher.”
Chris Marshall: “Agreed, David Waine was great to work for. Is that really Rod Natkiel? As for Kate Marsh…”
Carolyn Davies: “David Waine was one of the best ‘heads of’ anything I have ever met. Once you’d met him he always remembered your name and what you did and made a big effort to see those on the shop floor…..”
Dharmesh Rajput: “Wow – I thought there would be more… I started working in TV just end of 1998 whilst still working in radio and having done some work experience in Press & Publicity with Donald Steel’s team – so I remember Rod Natkiel from having to take press cuttings to his office. And then I was in TV and Online till the move to The Mailbox.”
Jane Ward: “Agree with Carolyn… David Waine was a great People Person…”
Viv Ellis: “I agree David Waine rocked. Lovely boss”