Claire Chambers – What Was Pebble Mill?

Roger Casstles reminisces about BBC Pebble Mill

Specially shot video of Roger Casstles talking about why BBC Pebble Mill was a special place. The video is recorded on Pebble Mill Road, overlooking the site where Pebble Mill stood, and is now a dental hospital. Roger mentions some of the productions that came from Pebble Mill, like Pebble Mill at One, Midlands Today, The Archers, as well as the Midland Radio Orchestra, and being a centre for drama, but tells us that the really important thing was how people worked together, for instance post production working across all productions and the way that Graphics and Set Design departments collaborated with production. Roger Casstles was the creator and producer of The Clothes Show, the fashion magazine series which ran from the 1986-2000.

(The video was shot by BCU Media graduate, Ash Connaughton, with me, (Vanessa Jackson) asking the questions).

Roger Casstles at the site of Pebble Mill

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

Andy Frizzell: ‘Had some great shoots with Roger in many countries around the world. As always talking a lot of sense. We were all saddened by the closing of ‘The Mill’.‘

Claire Chambers: ‘As Roger would say “ why answer a question with one word when thousands will do” ! Very well said’

Linda Hearn-Clapham: ‘Very happy memories of recording Hartbeat and The Movie Game at Pebble Mill in the 90’s!’

A day in the life of Pebble Mill at One

Pebble Mill at One producer, Steve Weddle, gives the inside story on how the show was made.

This article was included in the Pebble Mill at One book, from the 1985-6 season (which was the final series).

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

Ellie Lacey: ‘This is priceless and sooooo Steve!’

Steve Weddle: ‘Quite frankly!!! Under pressure, or pretending to be’

Claire Chambers: ‘Very well written piece by Mr Weddle -he always was a brilliant raconteur! Great to work on happy days’

Sue Westwood: ‘I have this book somewhere. My neighbour made the cake that was featured on the last programme’

Helen O’Rahilly: ‘Steve gave me my first BBC job. He was a hoot. I ran into him, by chance, in Spain about 8 years ago. Still the same Steve!’

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Last Pebble Mill at One – Five Star

This is a performance of Five Star on the last ever episode of Pebble Mill at One in 1986. The group dance in locations all round the Pebble Mill building, including the canteen, PBX, the roof, courtyard, and even the Pebble Mill at One production office.

Thanks to David Croxson for pointing out the video on YouTube.

The following comments were posted on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Ruth Barretto: ‘I have to say it bought a tear to my eye. So loved working in this building. Many happy memories. I remember watching them rehearsing .’

Stuart Gandy: ‘Wow, Can’t beleive this is 30 years ago!. I remember this so well, especially the bit they did in comms centre.’

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘Looking at that you realise once again what an iconic building it was. Loved my time there.’

Dharmesh Rajput: ‘Love this! Great to see the building again – I don’t think I remember the quadrangle without the conservatory in it!’

Pete Simpkin: ‘Fantastic!…brings back so many memories after all this time….yes and the lump to the throat!…..and what brilliant editing. Just this one clip shows clearly why ‘The One Show’ is such a feeble imitation too!!!’

Claire Chambers: ‘The very talented Roger Casstles directed this – only he could make Pebble Mill look like a Miami backdrop ( well at the beginning -not the bit in the canteen!)I think I was the P.A.!!!! How many locations and shot variations has he used -excellent.’

The Last Pebble Mill at One – photo from Mark Kershaw

This photo was taken just after the last ever ‘Pebble Mill at One’ on 23 May 1986. In fact you can just see the last few members of the audience leaving on the left hand side of the photo.

Included in the photo are:

Back row: Michael Smith (celebrity chef), David Lancaster (glasses), Caroline Marshall, Steve Weddle.

Next to back: Julian Hitchcock (with pink balloon), Chris Wright, Roger Sutton (just behind the others), possibly Barrie Edgar peeking out behind, Tony Rayner, Peter Urie, Peter Hercombe, Claire Chambers, Norma Scott, Mary Clyne, Mark Kershaw, Trudy Stanton, Steph Silk, Richard ?.

Third row from back: Girl in red dress below Tony Rayner is Jacqui Goodwin, Fran Groves, Ann Varley, Di Reid (red dress), Margaret Allen (with belt), John Westcott (FM), Annie Gumbley Williams (standing purple dress)

Back seated row: Sue Ashcroft, Debbie Hood, Caroline Matthews, Denny Hodge , Paul Coia

Middle seated row: Gareth Williams, Jo Buchan, Magnus Magnusson, Marian Foster, Bob Langley, Bev Wildman (Thompson), David Weir

Fron row: Tom Ross (standing), Eileen Bayliss just behind Tom, Maggy Whitehouse, Jane Clement, Viv Ellis, Peta Newbold, Colette Foster (central short brown dress), Nicky Barfoot, Claire Stride, Jane McLean, Jo Dewar

Please add a comment if you can fill in any of the people not identified.

Thanks to Mark Kershaw for making the photograph available.