“My dear school friend, Beverley, sadly lost her fight with cancer 5 years ago. She was my best friend in the 6th form and we spent many fun and happy hours together in the instrumental ensemble for the school plays and music productions, her on the clarinet and me on the flute. R.I.P. Bev xx”
(We were 16 on this photo)
Bev worked at Pebble Mill for many years, most of it in Drama. Before she left the BBC she was the series producer of the continuing drama, Doctors.
Pickwick Papers, photo by Neil Wigley
‘All Creatures Great and Small’, photo by Maggie Thomas
I came to Pebble Mill and ‘trailed’ in costume at weekends on Occupation Democrat, I was still in college in 1984 (Joyce Hawkins took me on) and then I went filming on Pickwick Papers and saw the whole programme through the studio shoot too as a dresser.
I returned to Pebble Mill after working at BBC Wales as a Costume Design Assistant, I came to do All Creatures but then became staff and worked on Parnell, Broke and then designed Specials and The Real McCoy, I stayed for 5 years working on things like A Year in Provence and Skallagrigg. I left in the first round of redundancies in 1993 and went freelance as a costume designer.
My website has my credits
http://www.costume-designer.co.uk/
I did some studio work on and off while I was staff at Pebble Mill but a lot of the programmes I worked on filmed away from Birmingham for long periods of time. I loved my time there and made many lovely friends including Beverley Dartnall who we lost recently. I’m still in touch with some lovely people from costume, it was a great productive and artistic time and always a big learning curve.
I hope that makes some sense. Lots of people will not remember me as I spent a lot of time out of the building, but I just wanted you to know I mentioned PM in my article.
Best Wishes.
Ray.
[This is the link to the article in The Independent, which Ray mentions above, where he talks about his work as costume designer on Wolf Hall, Broadchurch and Dr Who: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/behindthescenes-with-the-costume-makers-for-wolf-hall-broadchurch-and-doctor-who-9981200.html]
Ray Holman, photo copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
Photos by Karen Bond, no reproduction without permission.
These photos of dancing in the BBC Pebble Mill Club date from the early 1990s. They mostly feature Pebble Mill series editor, Steve Weddle, taking to the dance floor, amongst others!
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:
Marie Phillips: ‘Funny you posted this today. We were lunching with friends today at The Boot in Lapworth and in walked Steph Silk who I have bumped into twice in a week after 25 years. She was meeting former Pebble Millers, including Jenny Brewer and ….. Steve Weddle also 25 years on. Great to see everyone and share a few laughs. Steve was excited about his recently published book – available on Amazon! It must be part of the aging process but nobody looks any different as the years roll by.’
Judith Markall: ‘Remember dances in Studio 9 at Carpenter Road!’
Bridget Vaughan: ‘Tall girl could be Bev Dartnall, bless her.’
Janet Collins: ‘Sure it’s Bev and is the other person Julie Knee?’
Steve Weddle: ‘What is he like? Don’t answer that! And yes, that could be Bev – she was always full of fun and frolics, god bless her.’
Photo by Peter Poole, no reproduction without permission
Bev Dartnall, who worked in the Afro Caribbean Unit, and in Television Drama, sadly died yesterday, 17th February, after a battle with cancer. She was only 55 years old. Bev was a producer on Dangerfield, and series producer of Doctors for a number of years, before leaving the BBC and moving to Majorca.
Bev’s funeral is going to be held in Majorca, but it is thought that there will be a memorial service in Birmingham.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:
John Greening: ‘Bev was the first person I met at Pebble Mill on my first day in TV, on the 3rd March 1984 and we worked together at Pebble Mill for nearly 20 years in all sorts of rolls – finally she was a series producer and me a grateful director. I’ll miss you Bev, and thanks for many happy memories -it was a privilege to work with you in the golden days of English Regions Drama.’
Janice Rider: ‘Beverley lit up any set she worked on. She had the ability to keep every member of her crew happy whilst being firm and in control – qualities not many producers manage to achieve. She was a wonderful colleague and friend and Vote for Them was made all the more special for her being in Egypt with us. Khaled and I will never forget her lovely generous soul.’
Dominic Keavey: ‘Was honoured to be a snib. A kinder, more supportive boss we’ll never find. God bless Bev.’
Herbie Donnelly: ‘You meet many friends and you meet many colleagues but Bev was rare she became both.’
Martha Howe-Douglas: ‘I can’t believe it. Bev gave me my job on Doctors, and was always such a support. I’ll miss our yearly birthday wishes to each other, as we shared the same day. A truly lovely lady.’
Roulla Xenides: ‘Beverley got Nigel Havers to attend a Breakthrough Breast Cancer lunch that I organised a few years ago when she was producing Dangerfield. She was lovely, very supportive of the cause and helped raise a lot of money that day.’
Indra Bhose: ‘Fond memories of a lovely, kind woman. Mid 90’s. Very low budget Pebble Mill drama. No catering budget. Night shoot. Crew grumpy to the point of rebellion. Bev in the kitchen , surrounded by jars of Nescafe, single handedly making and bringing drinks round to all the crew. Sad day but happy memories.’
Sharon Pemberton: ‘Bev was a great gal. Many’s the evening she calmed me down and reassured me in ‘Boris’ the portakabin, whilst I tore my hair out trying to be a producer. Always calm, efficient and a genuine pleasure to be around.’
Zoe Goodwin: ‘The first producer I remember meeting at Doctors. And what a first impression. What a memorable, lovely, kind and supportive woman she was.’
Chris Richards: ‘This is very sad news. Bev was one of the very, very best people I have been lucky enough to work with. A terrific Producer, loved and respected by her colleagues, and a wonderful warm and funny person. Like many, I owe her a great deal.’
Tyrone Huggins: ‘Bev played clarinet for many shows we did at Duddeston Manor. I was a year above her. Later we connected up with productions at Pebble Mill and cups of tea at her parents old house in Bordesley Green which I’d once walked her home to after a school disco. A lovely girl, friendly and supportive woman and friend I’ve missed and will miss.’
Tabitha Wady leaving Doctors
Photo by John Waldron, no reproduction without permission.
The photo includes Bev Dartnall (series producer), Tabitha Wady, Maggie Cronin, SJ Clarkson, Natalie Robb, Tom Butcher.
Actress Tabitha Wady played the part of receptionist, Katrina Bullen, on the BBC Birmingham continuing drama ‘Doctors’ from 2001-2.
The photo is of Tabitha’s leaving of ‘Doctors’.