Carol Parks – Page 6 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Rachel and The Roarettes

‘Rachel and The Roarettes’ was a ‘Summer Season’ drama, produced at Pebble Mill and transmitted in 1985. It was written by Jude Alderson

Also starred Gary Oldman (his 1^st TV and his part was entirely cut), and Josie Lawrence (her 1^st TV). It was directed by Rob Walker, and produced by Roger Gregory. Carol Parks was the Production Associate and David Attwood the Production Manager. Phil Wilson was the camera supervisor, Roger Sutton the vision mixer, Jane Barton and Bobbie Chapman were the production assistants. Vivien Oldham was the make-up designer, Sally Engelbach the production designer and Kathryn Ayerst the costume designer and Tony Fisher the graphic designer.

The drama was recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill.

Photo includes,L to R: James Grout, Deborah Poplett, Linda Rolan

‘Rachel and the Roarettes’ was a rock musical….lesbian bikers in the present, highway women in the 17^th century, like you did in 1984!

Thanks to John Greening for much of the information and for making the photo available.

This is History Gran – photo from John Greening

‘This is History Gran’ was written by Robert Holman and produced at Pebble Mill in 1986. It was set in the 1930’s and present day and starred Paul Jesson, Liz Bradley, Gina McKee, Martin Walker, Mark Rylance and Peter Howell.

Sarah Pia Anderson the director, Carol Parks the producer, Sue Bennett-Urwin 1st assistant director, Bill Hartley the production manager, John Greening the assistant floor manager. John Kenway was the director of photography.

The story involves Lord Edward Langbaurgh making a shocking discovery whilst walking in the grounds of his country home. The discover affects the Chapman family in a nearby town. Christopher Chapman decides to investigate.

Witchcraft – photo from John Greening

Photo from John Greening, no reproduction without permission.

The photo is of the 1992 Pebble Mill drama series, ‘Witchcraft’, on location near Chipping Camden. Carol Parks was the producer, Peter Sasdy the director, screenplay by Nigel Williams. Barry Hanson was the exec producer.

The story involves a film school teacher choosing the subject of 17th Century witchcraft for his latest script. Real life begins to take on ominous similarities to the happenings in the script.

The series starred: Peter McEnery, Alan Howard, Lisa Harrow, Georgia Slowe, and Judy Campbell.

From the comments of people who worked on the series, it was a somewhat challenging production.

English Regions Drama – photo from John Greening

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission. This photo was probably taken by Willoughby Gullachsen.

Back row l to r: ?, Bob Jacobs, John Greening, Jane Barton, Sally Daniel, Monica Heath, Carol Parks, Bill Hartley, Paul Braithwaite, Annie Toy
Front row l to r: David Attwood, Bev Dartnall, Helen ?, Annemarie Harding, Clara Hewitt

The photo was taken during the drama series ‘The Goodbye Window’ which later changed title to ‘Final Run’ and the year was 1987.

This was Bev Dartnall’s last day in work before getting married to cameraman Howie Dartnall – and this was the cause of the celebration!

Thanks to Bev, for providing more information.

Please add a comment if you can fill in any of the blanks.

Witchcraft – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

‘Witchcraft’ was a drama serial transmitted in 1992. It was produced at Pebble Mill in 1991 by Carol Parks, with Barry Hanson as exec producer. the script was written by Nigel Williams, and directed by Peter Sasdy. John Greening was the 1st AD, with Will Trotter as Location Manager. Jane Barton was the PA. Nigel Jones was the designer, with John Plush his assistant. John Kenway was the lighting cameraman, Herbie Donnelly the lighting gaffer and Tim Everett the sound recordist. John Rosser was the film editor.

The storyline features a film school teacher, Jamie, who chooses 17th-century witchcraft and adultery as the theme of his latest script. As shooting of the film begins, real-life events take on a menacing quality and events from the past seem to be being re-enacted in the present. Fact and fiction blur, and Jamie suffers a breakdown and becomes possessed by the Witchfinder.

The series starred Peter McEnery as Jamie Matheson, Alan Howard as Alan Oakfield, Lisa Harrow as Meg, Georgia Slowe as Judy, Judy Campbell as Juliet, Clive Wood as Rick, Dorian Healy as Derwent, Rosemary McHale as Ruth, Suzannah Lipscomb as Emma, and Kit Owen as Thomasina.

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