Factual – Page 9 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Bish Mehay, thoughts from Waseem Mahmood

(Asian Unit producers: Yosuf Aziz, Waseem Mahmood, Krishan Gould and Bish Mehay. Seated is Ashok Rampal, the executive producer.)

“It is with great sadness that I learn of the passing of my old colleague, Bish Mehay. I shared an office with him for six years and learnt so much from him. It is a sobering thought that of the original producers of the BBC Asian Programmes Unit in this picture, only I remain. It is a shame that the pioneering work that these men did for Asian broadcasting in UK in the 70’s and 80’s has been largely overlooked and lost in the annals of history. The contribution of Ashok Rampal, Krishen Gould, Yosuf Aziz and Bish Mehay has to be recognised and acknowledged. The programmes we made Asian Magazine on BBC1, Gharbar on BBC 2 and Make Yourself at Home on Radio 4 were a staple part of life for the majority of Asians at that time. It is these men who laid the foundations and opened the doors for all of us in the media today.”

Waseem Mahmood

Pebble Mill at One team

Included in this photo of the Pebble Mill at One team are: John Smith, Peter Seabrook, Judy Hill, Clara Hewitt, Chris Wright, Angela Lee, Margaret Walne, Steve N Weddle, Dave Williams, Jane Clement, Clare Stride, Richard Pearson, Fran Groves, Pat Holmes, Trudy Stanton, Tony Wolfe, Pam Creed, Jim Dumighan, Marian Foster, Peter Hercombe, Jane Mclean, Jonathan Fulford, Mary Clyne, Annie Morris, Ellie Lacey, Tony Rayner.

The occasion was Lis Walker’s leaving do.

Thanks to Jane Mclean for sharing the photo.

Royal Navy helicopter landing at Pebble Mill

Photo by Keith Warrender, no reproduction without permission

Thanks to Keith Warrender for sharing this photo of a Royal Navy helicopter landing on the back lawn at Pebble Mill. This dates from the late 1970s. The landing would have been part of Pebble Mill at One, and was no doubt one of John Smith’s shows, as he had very good contacts with the military.

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

David Shute: ‘I often had the job of doing Hearts & Minds visits to the neighbours when we had noisy visitors expected. Great fun.’

Julie Hill: ‘I was at Pebble Mill then and we had harrier jump jets/ parachutes and all sorts of crazy stunts landing for Pebble Mill at One! Being told not to leave the BBC Club bar whilst the Harrier landed and took off went down very well! Oh happy days….’

Asian Programme Unit in hospitality

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission. Included are Yousaf Aziz, Bish Mehay, Krishen Gould, Asha, Ashok Rampal Jayne Savage and Waseem Mahmood

Here’s a photo from Waseem Mahmood of the Asian Programmes Unit team at hospitality after a recording with Indian Singer Asha Bhonsle. It includes Yousaf Aziz, Bish Mehay, Krishen Gould, Asha, Ashok Rampal Jayne Savage and Waseem.

Bish Mehay by Paresh Solanki

Editors may come and go, but Bish Mehay was always there to anchor the ship (the BBC Asian Programmes Unit). He was a great friend and a great support, especially in time of crisis. His motto ‘Don’t worry, it is all under control,’ was a Bish classic from the numerous phrases he utilised daily. His knowledge of Bollywood stars and ethnic fashion models was phenomenal. If smartphones were around at his time at the APU, Bish would have been photographed with every Bollywood star and fashion model around. He loved directing the super stars. During the time of Mega Mela at the NEC, he had the audacity to tell Sharukh Khan how to pose for a shot. His anecdotes would fill a book. What a loss – RIP to one of the pioneers of ethnic broadcasting in the UK.

Paresh Solanki