Building – Page 12 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pebble Mill’s 10th Anniversary Event

Photo by Julian Sharp, no reproduction without permission

Here is a photo from the 10th Anniversary event in 1981, courtesy of Julian Sharp. On the main table clockwise from left, Keith Warrender, Claire Pilson, Jane ?, James Young, nearside, Colin Fearnley and companion, Julian Sharp, Trish Allen. Holding cracker is Basil Cottrill and on the table behind I can identify Pete Prior and Tony Newbury. There are other faces in the gloom if anyone can identify them.

Thanks to Keith Warrender for sharing the photo.

Ray Sperry

I have received news that Ray Sperry, one of Pebble Mill’s vision crew, has died. Ray started working for the BBC in Birmingham back in the Gosta Green / Broad Street days and during the Pebble Mill period; working both on O.B.s and in the studios. He rose to become Vision Supervisor on CM1 and CM2, and like everyone else in OBs, lost his job when Outside Broadcasts in the Midlands closed down, in 1992.

A much loved member of the crew, Ray was always convivial, professional and knowledgeable.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Robin Sunderland: ‘Ray was a lovely man’

Andy Frizzell: ‘I Remember Ray, as Robin says, lovely man, always a pleasant and knowledgable man. People like him are a breed that’s getting thinner on the ground in the TV industry and we’ll be all the poorer for it. ‘

Malcolm Hickman: ‘As Andy says, Ray was a great bloke. Very helpful when you were trying to put a rig in on OBs. Another good bloke gone.’

Studio A Refurbishment – Stuart Gandy

Refurbished Studio A Gallery. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

Hard to believe but this month (March 2018) it is 20 years since Studio A came back into use after it’s digital widescreen refurbishment. The strip out had started just before Christmas 97, and then the rebuild continued early 98. Sadly as we all know the new studio had a very short life. I could be wrong (corrections please) , but I think the first programme in the new studio was Can’t Cook Won’t Cook. The picture is of the new production gallery.

Stuart Gandy

Pebble Mill’s 10th Night Out

Invitation from Phil Sidey, Head of Broadcasting, to Pebble Mill’s 10th Night Out, to celebrate the building’s 10th birthday, which would have been in 1981. £2 seems very good value for a four course dinner and a night of entertainment. Apparently the comedian had a very funny Rod Stewart impression!

Thanks to Roy Thompson for sharing the invitation, and keeping it safe all these years.

Midlands Today, Studio B

Photo of Midlands Today in Studio B. Presenter Diane Kemp is on the right.

This photo was originally shared on the Pebble Mill Engineers Facebook page.