Bob Few – What Was Pebble Mill?

More Vote for Them photos in Tenbury Wells

Photos by Roy Thompson, no reproduction without permission.

These photos from the 1989 three part drama: Vote For Them, by David Edgar and Neil Grant, were taken in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. The Regal Cinema stood in for an Egyptian cinema.

Simon Tooley is seen on camera in the second photo, wearing the striped top, with Bob Few holding the tripod, and soundman Andy Redfern in the brown top, to the left, with his mixer on the seat.

Thanks to Keith Brook (Scouse), Peter Knowles and Richard Stevenson for identifying people.

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

Mike Eastman: ‘Played a soldier on this show, but recorded my section at Pebble Mill Studio.’

Janice Rider: ‘Never seen these photos. Thank you Roy for sharing these. There were SO many extras on this show all in uniform!!! You can just see Paul Higton dealing with them in the second photo at the back on the left.’

Salt on a Snake’s Tail – Come to Mecca

Photo by Tim Savage, no reproduction without permission.

This photo is from a drama outside broadcast, probably from one of the ‘Come to Mecca’ dramas, called: ‘Salt on a Snake’s Tail’. The Traffic Warden, with the rigger driver, Bob Few, is writing out a ticket for the scanner, CM2 – despite it having a parking permit!

‘Salt on a Snake’s Tail’, was transmitted in 1983, it was written by Farrukh Dhondy. Franco Ross was the director, Peter Ansorge the producer, and Ian Ashurst the production designer.

The cast included: Zia Mohyeddin, Andrew Johnson, Gill Dharminder.

The following comment was posted on the Pebble Mill Facebook Group:

Andy Bentley: ‘Last time I saw Bob (Few) was a number of years ago, I had just parked the car on Barmouth Sea front when someone shouted ‘Oi what the F*** are you doing here. It was Bob driving a coach full of passengers.’

Vanity Fair – Dave Bushell’s photos

Sidmouth 1 Tracking shot on Sidmouth seafront, Paul Woolston on camera, Diarmuid Lawrence (director) at left. Sidmouth is deputising for Brighton in the book.

Sidmouth 2 Sidmouth beach scene, Paul Woolston and trio of soundmen (Chris Rea, Paul Willcox, David Hughes) ready for action. Make-up and electricians also enjoying the late April sunshine.

Edinburgh 1 Shooting in Edinburgh, a late substituted location for Bath following an injunction by a resident there prevented filming. L-to-R, Roger Willcox (sound), John Alison (electrician), Ronnie Fleet (grip), Paul Woolston (camera)

Edinburgh 2 Diarmuid Lawrence directs Paul Woolston on a crane shot in Edinburgh

Edinburgh 3 Ronnie Fleet and Bob Few take the strain on a tracking shot in Edinburgh

Edinburgh 4 Another short tracking shot in Edinburgh, Paul Woolston on camera, unknown First Assistant shouting action.

Edinburgh 5 Some sort of sound ritual – Roger Willcox and Alistair Askham

Blickling 1 Gavin Davies (designer), in characteristic pose, watches the building at Blickling Hall, Norfolk, of the set for Vauxhall Gardens.

Blickling 2 Set built in the gardens of Blickling Hall, Norfolk. Four nights of shooting until the sun came up, in freezing weather. So much artificial light on that the birds got confused and started the dawn chorus at about 1 am.

Blickling 3 Set built to represent Vauxhall Gardens

Heydon 1 John Bradley fettles up an LDK14 camera at Heydon Hall, Norfolk

Heydon 2 Tracking shot from a specially adapted Citroen 2CV with Rob (?), engineer and Michael Owen Morris, director, in the back

Heydon 3 Freddie Jones, playing Sir Pitt Crawley

Heydon 4 Paul Woolston and First Assistant Director shelter while rain sweeps all the set dressing material into the Heydon rains.

Thetford 1 Lesley Perry (makeup designer) photographs while Tracy Southam (makeup assistant) put the finishing touches to Simon Dormandy. Location is Thetford, the setting for the Battle of Waterloo.

Photos by Dave Bushell (lighting director), no reproduction without permission.