Beverley Dartnall – What Was Pebble Mill?

Martin Chuzzlewit script front page

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This is the script front page for the 1994, BBC2, drama serial: Martin Chuzzlewit, adapted by David Lodge from Dickens’ original. Chris Parr was the producer, and Pedr James the director. This must be an early version of the script, because not all the crew are named. The rehearsal period was about ten days, in Acton, with filming taking four months.

Thanks to Ann Chancellor-Davies, the widow of production designer, Gavin Davies, for making the page available.

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Bev Dartnall’s Memorial – 17th June

Photo by Peter Poole, no reproduction without permission

(I’ve received the message below about Bev Dartnall’s Memorial Services, from Annie Gumbley-Williams)

As most of you will know that the lovely Beverley Dartnall passed away on 17th February this year and her funeral was in Majorca. Her close friends are keen to have some form of celebration of Bev’s life. The details, via Sarah Costigan, are as follows:

The celebration of Beverley Dartnall’s life will be held on TUESDAY 17th JUNE at:

Cartland Suite
Kings Heath Cricket and Sports Club
247 Alcester Road South
Kings Heath
Birmingham B14 6DT
0121 444 1913

Can those who would like attend please arrive at 2.15 and the proceedings will start at 2.30. This is a celebration so no need for funeral dress. Please feel free to come in as colourful, smart casual clothes as you would like.

Anne Gumbley-Williams

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

Jane Green: ‘I love this photo of Bev. I only knew her a little from when I was AFM on the odd drama, but she always made people smile, and was one of the great Pebble Mill characters. ‘

Janet Collins: ‘I worked with lovely Bev in the Planning Office at Pebble Mill, before she moved on to bigger things. I will certainly be attending the celebration of her life.’

Beverley Dartnall from Peter Lloyd

Photo from John Greening, of Bev's party before getting married

Photo from John Greening, of Bev’s party in Drama before getting married

(The following tribute to Bev Dartnall was written by Peter Lloyd, the current Series Producer of Doctors, and a friend of Bev’s.)

It’s with great sadness that we heard of the death of our dear friend Beverley Dartnall, former Series Producer of Doctors and an all round wonderful woman.

She really set the tone for the way we work here at Birmingham Drama – honest, respectful and fair, with a flair for the ridiculous and a great bullshit detector.

We can only take comfort that she made that leap and lived her dream, taking redundancy and moving to Majorca – and finding a new group of people who loved her and were there when she passed.

Peter

Farewell ‘poor girl from Nechells’, you were one of the best