Pebble Mill Cameramen’s reunion Aug 2019. No reproduction without permission.
The photo includes: Dave Wilkins, Phil Wilson, Dave Ballantyne with Alan Duxbury in front, Bhasker Solanki, Doug Smith?, Bob Meikle, Robin Sunderland and John Couzens.
Keith Salmon held the reunion for Pebble Mill cameramen at The Kings Arms in Knowle in Aug 2019.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission
These photos are from Children in Need
1991. The top photo shows the hot-liners taking pledges of money. It could be Sue Beardsmore checking her cue cards.
The lower photo shows Bob Meikle and probably Diane Lester in their character outfits.
These photos were originally posted on the Pebble Mill Engineers Facebook page.
Photo by Richard Stevenson, no reproduction without permission
This photo is of cameramen, Bob Meikle and Jim Gray, sitting in the Crush Bar, outside Studio A, enjoying a break and a snack. It was taken by Richard Stevenson in February 1990, when Bob and Jim were presumably working on a show in Studio A.
The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Stuart Gandy: ‘This was when the servery for the crush bar was downstairs, before eventually moving to the corridor above.’
Copyright resides with the original holders no reproduction without permission
This was the presentation of the GTC’s (Guild of Television Camermen) TiCA (Television Cameraman’s Award) to the Pebble Mill camera department for Pebble Mill at One circa 1979.
The names are as follows:
Back (L to R): Doug Smith, Robin Sunderland, Bob Meikle, Don Cooper, Paul Woolston, Tony Wigley, Phil Wilson, Mike Solomons (GTC Chairman from Thames TV), Brian Cave, Jim Gray, Bob Hubbard, Chris Allen, not sure (perhaps Phil Sidey?), Jack Rooke, Keith Salmon, Dave Lawson, Dave Doogood, Dave Wilkins, Pete Edwards, Tim Konewko, Bhasker Solanki.
Kneeling down (L to R): Barrie Foster, Keith ‘Scouse’ Brook, Roger Mulliner, Dave Ballantyne, John Couzens, Eric Wise
(Thanks to James French for providing the names, Annie Gumbley Williams for sending me the photo and to Roger Mulliner for sharing it in the first place).
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Richard Stevenson: ‘That is an amazing picture! I have never seen so many cameramen in ties! Brilliant.’
Lynn Cullimore: ‘They all look so young and thats because they were – then. hah.’
Bob Bishop: ‘There are no women in the photograph, would that be the same today.’
Keith Brook (Scouse): ‘We were told to dress up by management. Bhaskar Solanki, far right (physically, not politically) went on to be a very, very successful news cameraman and is now a senior producer. Good for him!! I should also mention that I’m the only one wearing a waistcoat. Even then, standards were sloppy!!’
Photos by James French, no reproduction without permission.
The photos were taken during a recording of Superstars in Nottingham in 1983. This was a London production, but used Pebble Mill scanners, if the recording was in the Midlands and a PM truck was available – in this case CM1.
Crew 3 was on CM1 at the time. The cameras are Philips LDK 5s with Schneider lenses.
The pics show:
Dave Ballantyne sitting on the Elemac dolly with, I think, George Stevenson tracking him.
Dave again, sitting on a Vinten Kestrel crane (though you can’t see it)
Dave again, Bob Meikle and Eric Wise relaxing at lunchtime
James French, standing on the platform of the Moonshot hoist, shown in the last pic.
Crew 3’s Supervisor was Keith Salmon but he was on leave, so Dave B was acting.
Thanks to James French for sharing the photos.
