Adrian Goldberg. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
A chance to listen to one of the Plaque For Pebble Mill Campaigners making their case on a recent edition of Radio WM’s Adrian Goldberg Show. It’s about 1 hour 50 minutes in.
The show will be available to listen to until 10th December 2016.
Thanks to Steve Weddle for sharing the link.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081m154
There was a moving item on Midlands Today tonight (10th Nov 2016), with Nick Owen interviewing Pebble Mill series editor, Steve Weddle, about the campaign to erect a blue plaque to commemorate BBC Pebble Mill. The campaign seems to be building a momentum, and fingers crossed, the plaque will soon become a reality.
Nick also interviewed cameraman, John Williams, who shot a wealth of dramas and factual series during his long career at Pebble Mill. John has just published an autobiography about his life as a cameraman entitled, Shoot First – No Ordinary Life.
John’s book: Shoot First
Coincidentally, today marks the 45th anniversary of Princess Anne officially opening BBC Pebble Mill in 1971!
Princess Anne opening Pebble Mill 10th Nov 1971. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Annie Gumbley adds that:
‘Steve Weddle did a brilliant interview with Adrian Goldberg on Radio WM this morning. At 4.15pm today Nick Owen will be on Radio WM talking about Pebble Mill & at 6.30 tonight on Midlands Today John Williams will be interviewed by Nick Owen talking about his book & Pebble Mill. The amazing thing is that today is the 45th Anniversary of the official opening of Pebble Mill Studios, opened by Princess Anne who arrived at 12 noon, on 10th November 1971. The photo shows John Williams, myself, Ivor Williams and Nick Owen where Ivor and myself (+Molly Dog) met up with them to pass on some photos of the event in 1971.’
John Williams, Annie Gumbley-Williams, Ivor Williams, Nick Owen. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
BBC Birmingham at the Mailbox is remembering its heritage by naming some of its meeting rooms after famous Pebble Mill programmes.
The programmes being honoured include:
Pebble Mill at One
Good Morning with Anne and Nick
Howards’ Way
Tom Coyne
If you have any logos or photos of these programmes, which might be suitable to decorate the walls of the meeting rooms, then please get in touch. Vanessa
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Cast and crew on Howards’ Way
Midlands Today presenters, Tom Coyne, back row, right.
The following additional suggestions were added on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Helena Morrisey: ‘What about all the fine radio output too…? R3’s The Music Machine was a groundbreaking programme and produced at Pebble Mill.’
Stuart Gandy: ‘Not forgetting the popular local music show ‘Look Hear’. It was a big production for a local programme.’
Julie Hill: ‘Yes and what about Angels, Saturday Night at the Mill, The Clothes Show, Gardeners World, Ebony.’
Jane Clement: ‘If they name any more rooms, I would suggest The Archers. And Donny MacLeod.’
Jane Ward: ‘Midlands Radio Orchestra?’
Sue Welch: ‘Only TV? How about all the Radio 2 output and Radios 3 &4, not to mention 5?’
Bill Bohanna: ‘”Gangsters”, “Boys from the Black Stuff”, “All Creatures Great and Small” more to follow’
Mike Hayes: ‘Do not forget David Steel & Michael Hancock…’
Lez Cooke introducing the screenings. Photos from Izzie Archer of Flatpack, no reproduction without permission
Lez Cooke, Peter Booth and Joyce Hawkins. Photo from Izzie Archer of Flatpack, no reproduction without permission
Photo from Izzie Archer of Flatpack, no reproduction without permission
Audience for Gosta Green screenings. Photos from Izzie Archer of Flatpack, no reproduction without permission
These photos are from the Gosta Green Revisited screenings, held at the Midlands Arts Centre on the 15th October 2016.
The photos are from the Flatpack Film Festival organisers, who arranged the screenings.
The screenings included: Rainbow City, The Newcomers, and Sinking Fish Move Sideways and were followed by a question and answer session with cameraman Peter Booth, and costume designer Joyce Hawkins, interviewed by academic researcher, Lez Cooke.
In the audience photo you can see Ann Chancellor-Davies in the front row, and in the second row, towards the right, Jenny Brewer, Peter Ansorge, and me (Vanessa Jackson).
Please add a comment if you can identify others.
2″ Quad machine, photo by John Burkill (1976)
Annie Gumbley-Williams has sent through the following sad news about John Lannin.
“John Lannin died last Friday, 28th October 2016. John had been ill for some time. The news has come from John Kimberley. John was a VT Editor and then a Vision Manager at Pebble Mill. John was a very pleasant, friendly and very kind gentleman. He will be sadly missed.”
John was apparently also a master of the two inch editing block (seen in front of the 2″ machine above), which was a demanding piece of equipment to operate accurately!
The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Bryan Comley: ‘Very sad news, I first met John at BBC Bristol, as my line manager, I will never forget his amazing management style. When he moved back to Pebble mill he got me to move too, my interview consisted of a 15 minute tour of pebble mill followed by three hours? In the bar!!! I passed the interview!!’
Bill Morris: ‘Along with the sadly departed Alan Edwards, John trained me up as an Engineering Manager in the early 80’s at Viewplan Broadcast. He was a true gentleman and an unflappable OB Manager. His capacity for both humour and beer were legendary and I remember both John and those halcyon days of OB’s with great affection.’