It was good to watch a recent repeat of ‘Kate Bush at the BBC’. It featured her singing on Saturday Night at the Mill. I was secretary to Roy Ronnie and Roy Norton from 1976-1980 and she had to dictate the words of her song, which I took down in shorthand. I remember her singing it softly to me. She was fascinated by shorthand!
Happy days sharing an office with the two Roys, Keith Ackrill, Patricia Mifflin and Liz Silver.
Linda Moffat
Photos by Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission
These photos of the US performer, Peggy Lee are from a show called ‘Peggy Lee Entertains’ from 1981.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Maggie Humphries: That’s me in the middle audience with Aunt and Uncle, it was an amazing night and I was just talking about it a couple of days ago, great music, great memories.
Jane Mclean: I PA-ed it. THINK Bob Langley presented it.
Annette Martin: I Vision Mixed the show. It was a wonderful evening in the 80s. Peggy had difficulty walking so she rehearsed in a wheelchair with an assistant moving her to the various positions on the stage! It was surreal but come the show she moved superbly- what a pro and her voice was fabulous- a VM highlight for me and everyone involved. I think John Smith Directed and Jim Dumighan was involved.
David Ian Bellinger: Worked with Pete Moore, her MD all week – first in the radio studio for Radio 2 and then that weekend – one of my most memorable times in 25 years at the Mill, No band could have been more prepared for that diamond of a TV Music Show ….. Oh – so many memories of this. When Pete asked me to add strings to a Paul Whiteman original arrangement I nearly passed out – finished it with minutes to go – yes the ink was still wet! Didn’t sleep for three days. My time at the Mill? I’d have paid the Licence Payers (Bless’Em) for the honour and spending my time with my second family every day at work.
Carole Haysom: Yvonne Brockbank was the make up designer.
Photos by cameraman, Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission
These photos are of Kiki Dee appearing on the Showaddywaddy show from Christmas 1980.
The following comments and information were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Colin Fearnley: She was a guest on “Showaddywaddy Show” recorded in the 1980’s, the camera is an EMI 2001 which would correspond with that period and it looks like whoever is sitting bottom right of the camera is wearing one of the silly hats the crew and the audience were given. I was on racks and I think John Abbott lit it. Found in my 1980 diary, recorded in Studio A, Sunday 30th November and Monday 1st December. Kiki Dee inserts recorded on the Sunday, then live audience in for the Monday night. My hours 1030-2215 both days. John Kimberley on colour match And Peter Wood-Fisher on lighting desk (Q-File). The reason I remember it so well was that I had just escaped a very long course at Wood Norton!
The Newcomers circa 1967
The Newcomers with some names
The Newcomers was a drama series produced at Gosta Green, in Birmingham, in the 1960s. It was originally shot in black and white, but moved to colour with the OB scanner as a drive in outside the studio providing the colour facilities.
The following people have been identified:
Bill Sellars producer, Wendy Richard actor, Jeremy Bullock Actor, Maggie Fitzgibbon acton. Islwyn Evans floor manager, Michael Bowen production assistant, Paul Kerr floor staff, Pauline Pearson nee Dodds producers assistant, Bunny Hall duplicating, Michael Edwards design, Miles Lang, designer, Alan Farrington, Wally Aspey scenic, Fred Foster props, Jim Lloyds props, Sid Wright, Ann Brown now Doling costume, Joyce Hawkins costume designer,
On right, next to Jacky in striped dress, actress Mitzi Rogers who married John Davies, Director. Between Gerald Cross and Alan Browning is Naomi Chance, actress, Left of Barry Letts is Rita Dunn. Behind Rita, Ann Brown now Ann Doling, dresser, who is somehow named Helen Cotterill, who was not even in the cast. Behind Rita is I think Bob Hubbard, camera.
Photo from Mel Stevens, no reproduction without permission
This photo is of Film Unit’s Chris Rowlands, when he was Editing Organiser. It dates from the mid to late 1980s and is from the RAC Rally. Chris would order in editing equipment to fit out a van to edit on location.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Ian Collins: I was the editor on CM2 working on the Rally in 1988. John Burkill was Producer along with the late John Smith if I remember rightly and Tony Rayner was the Director. I think LO22 was also involved but I can’t rennet where we were located.
Ned Abell: Remember CM2 parked nearly outside the Nottingham Albany rally headquarters..and the Laguna Tandoori 3 steps away after transmission with starters on the table!!
Malcolm Hickman: I did plan the radio links for the RAC rally which was starting in Scarborough. That would have been the late 80s.