Factual – Page 11 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Working in Television – David Weir

Directors: Chris Wright, David Weir, Mark Kershaw, from Tom O’Connor Roadshow

This is an excerpt from an interview with David Weir, from a book called Working in Television written in 1980 by Jan Leeming, who worked at Pebble Mill for a time. The aim was to encourage young people to think about careers in television. David went on to become a successful multi-camera director.

Thanks to Jonathan Dick for sharing the photo, who has sadly died since sharing the excerpts.

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

Gordon Astley: ‘I first met David in the ‘60s when he came into my dad’s petrol station In Hall Green . As I filled up his sports car we got chatting and he told me about the T.O. Course at Wood Norton. That was the start of my 40 year broadcasting career. We met a few times over the years and I only once committed the cardinal sin of calling him ‘Dave’.’

Safira and Nicky Katrack

Here’s a link to two Asian Programme Unit documentaries from Waseem Mahmood about a model and a ballerina, Safira and Nicky Katrak:

The following was added to the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Jayne Savage: ‘The wonderful Elisabeth Seabourne was responsible for ‘finding’ and researching Nicky’

Indian Cookery – Pebble Mill at One

Thanks to Keith Warrender for sharing this photo of his well worn Indian Cookery book. Here is a comment from him:

‘who remembers this little 6 x 3 inch paperback? My first Indian cookbook and still in use 40 years on. Although late night Indian food could be had at Salim’s for about £2. Limited menu but very good food.’

Keith Warrender

Asian Programme Unit Producers

The Asian Programme Unit producers: Yousaf Aziz, Waseem Mahmood, Krishan Gould and Bish Mehay. Seated is Ashok Rampal, the executive producer.

Thanks to Waseem Mahmood for sharing the photo.

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

Waseem Mahmood: ‘This must have been about 1984. We all worked on the BBC 1 Asian Magazine programme that went out on Sunday morning, Gharbar that went out on BBC 2 on Wednesday mornings and the Radio 4 programme Make Yourself at Home which also went out on Sunday.’

Lynne Cullimore: ‘I worked there for a while. Worked on many interesting stories and of course the music. I was there when Nahrendra was in charge!’

Dawn Trotman: ‘I worked on the programme. I even sunk up Bish’s feature film in his garage ! Many stories abound about the shooting of the film in Birmingham ! I later worked on Network East some of the old team remained but a new boss.’

Rosalind Gower: ‘So great to see this lovely bunch again. Thanks’

Jane Ward: ‘Wow! Agree with Rosalind Gower – how lovely to see them all in this pic. I worked with them on Gharbar and Asian Magazine – 1986-87. The Midlands Today set would come out of Studio B for filming Asian Magazine and then be put back in again just in time for afternoon news. I used to love the bands that sat on the floor and played great music.’

Mary Sanchez: ‘I worked as part of my secretarial training on Asian Network and Ebony then onto news where indeed we doubled up with Asian Network and News in same studio.’

Working in Television – Clare Stride

Excerpt from ‘Working in Television’ 1980, by Jan Leeming

This is an excerpt from an interview with Clare Stride, from a book called Working in Television written in 1980 by Jan Leeming, who worked at Pebble Mill for a time. The aim was to encourage young people to think about careers in television. Clare was working as a research assistant at the time, and later became a producer on The Clothes Show and a series producer on various Daytime shows. I worked with her when she was a producer on Good Morning with Anne and Nick in the early 1990s. She sadly died aged 55 in 2006.

Thanks to Jonathan Dick for sharing the photo, who has sadly died since sharing the excerpts.

Clare Stride on the Severn Valley Railway. Photo by Peter Poole, no reproduction without permission