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This plaque has recently been erected at Kings Heath Cricket Club, in memory of cameraman, Andy Payne, who died last year – much too young!
It’s a really fitting tribute to Andy, who spent much of his time at Kings Heath Cricket Club.
Thanks to Jane Mclean, Jill Moorcroft and Laura McNeill for sharing the photo.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
This article was published in the Midlands News, the internal newsletter, in June 1992. Roger Waugh, the Head of Resources sets out to explain the principles behind, Director General, John Birt’s ‘Producer Choice’.
‘Producer Choice’ split off the Resource departments from Production, and resulted in mass redundancies in Resources. Redundancies are hinted at in this article, but the position wasn’t clear in 1992.
Thanks for Stuart Gandy for sharing this edition of Midlands News.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Carolyn Davies: ‘Still commonly used in inverted commas to mean ‘complete disaster’…’
Malcolm Hickman: ‘I remember I had to establish each business units’ asset size so they could be charged. A mammoth task.’
Mark Holdstock: ‘I couldn’t decide who was the worse DG. Birt or Mark Thompson producer choice was a completely stupid idea. When they started charging for record loans, we quickly worked out that it was much cheaper to pop into town to HMV and buy the disc.’
Steve Peacock: ‘Idiotic and divisive policy. Decimated the craft base and did us producers no favours at all.’
Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘Producer Choice. Leading to much less actual sensible choice than a producer had before it was implemented. Lovely.’
Julia Versluis: ‘Until you had to pay for a service and discover it was three times more expensive this way.’
Julie Hill: ‘I jumped ship before that hideous “initiative” was enforced. Lost out on any redundancy though!’
Vicky King: ‘I remember it well, working in HR, one of the biggest change programmes I’ve worked on.’
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
I’m not sure where this article is from, but probably one of the local Birmingham papers. It is from 1992, when Rod Natkiel was appointed Head of Network Television. As the cutting is rather hard to read, I have transcribed it here:
“Surprise as outsider takes Pebble Mill top job.
Mr Rod Natkiel has been appointed as Head of Network Television at BBC Pebble Mill in a surprise move.
The 40-year-old, who lives in Wylde Green, Birmingham beat off a strong field of internal applicants.
In his new role he will have overall responsibility for drama, leisure and lifestyle, multi-cultural programming output and the new daytime schedule.
Mr Natkiel, a freelance independent producer, was s former BBC TV light entertainment producer and director in Scotland from 1978-84 and is currently production executive at the Birmingham Media Development Agency.
His impressive CV includes work in entertainment, documentary, drama, news and current affairs, including stints on Granada’s Krypton Factor, Channel 4’s QD – The Master Game and Children’s Ward, the ITV drama.
Last night he said: “I am delighted to be joining the BBC again, especially at Pebble Mill which has such an excellent track record.
“These are challenging times for the industry and the BBC itself, of course, has many issues to resolve.
But I’m looking forward very much to being part of that process and hopefully assisting future success of the corporation and Pebble Mill.”
Before accepting the job, Mr Natkiel insisted that he be allowed to retain his MDA post after he starts work with the corporation on Monday.
A BBC insider commented: “This is a fairly sensational appointment. He will be the man who is responsible for all the network TV output from Pebble Mill.”
Mr Bill Cotton, chairman of Noel Gay Television and a former BBC managing director, said: “I think it’s a very good appointment. I think he’s a first class producer with a lot of experience and patience.”
Mrs Dorothy Hobson, director of the MDA, said: “We have always had a close relationship with the BBC because they were one of our original sponsors.”
She said Mr Natkiel had always shown great patience and interest in up-and-coming film makers.”
Thanks to Philip Thickett for sharing the cutting.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Jean Palmer: ‘I worked for Rod and Jenny Brewer on the 5th Floor. Thought I had made it being on the management floor. He called me to ask me if I could go and unit manage Good Morning with Anne and Nick. Enjoyed that role, worked with a great team of people, fun times and hard times but great times.’
Jane Upston: ‘Yes I worked with him and Jenny too prior to maternity leave from Personnel, as it was called in those days!’
copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
This article is from Midlands News, the internal BBC newsletter from June 1992. It gives an insight into the work of the Graphics department at Pebble Mill, and mentions a number of the staff and programmes being worked on.
Thanks to Stuart Gandy for sharing the article.
Photo from David Headon, no reproduction without permission
This is the front drum head from the BBC Pebble Mill Club house band. The kit belongs to house band drummer and Midlands Today camera operator, Jonathan Sales. The artwork was hand painted by Tony Ore, who worked on Midlands Today. Tony sadly died ten years ago, he was a popular figure in the newsroom and the BBC Club.
Thanks to David Headon for sharing the photograph.