Memories – Page 14 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Information leaflet on joining the Mailbox

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

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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!’

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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!’

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Gosta Green Revisited event photos

Lez Cooke introducing the Gosta Green revisited screening

Lez Cooke, Peter Booth, Joyce Hawkins

Screen shot from The Newcomers

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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).

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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

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Memories of Aberfan – John Howarth

I started my career in professional broadcasting at Pebble Mill as a vacation trainee engineer. I remember Alan Edwards man ops, who was the engineering manager at Aberfan 50 years ago today, who stopped the riggers from going to help, because they had a job to do as part of the news team, to report the historical events, so they should not be repeated. I remember my Welsh teacher mother Olwen holding me and weeping as we watched the families digging for their children. I am so glad that John Humphries and Huw Edwards, fellow Taffia have remembered and so eloquently reported on the anniversary. I have never forgotten, and so it would appear neither have they. I was privileged to work with John in SPUR, BBC TV News when he was South Africa Correspondent, & Lime Grove BBC NCA 1978-1988, and under Brigadier Alan Protheroe DDG Ed Tel News, and finished my career as Acting Planning Manager BBC NCA Resources, before resigning when the BIRT/Checkland double act took office. I am glad someone else remembers Pebble Mill, speaking as a BBC Pensioner.

John Howarth

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

Dave Bushell: ‘One of my Bristol engineering colleagues was at Aberfan. The Bristol OB unit, MCR 28 was in South Wales for a job and was diverted to provide coverage. He spoke of the difficulties the crew had staying at their posts when the urge to help was so overwhelming.’

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