David Weir – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pebble Mill at One, HMS Dreadnought – David Weir

Pebble Mill at One: HMS Dreadnought – 14/2/80 ………..
And…..cue the submarine”.

With those words [surely one of the best ever cues over talkback!] John Smith, the Director, began yet another “first” for the Pebble Mill @ One team with a live broadcast from a nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought, near Faslane off the west coast of Scotland on the 14th February, 1980. The submarine took it’s cue, broke through the surface of the choppy Firth of the Clyde and appeared in all it’s glory to the music of the opening title sequence. What happened next – I will never forget.

John Smith was an inspirational Producer/Director and not exactly known for taking “No” or “It can’t be done” for an answer. He was the driving force behind many of Pebble Mill’s ambitious live programmes – particularly those involving the military.

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Working in Television – David Weir

Directors: Chris Wright, David Weir, Mark Kershaw, from Tom O’Connor Roadshow

This is an excerpt from an interview with David Weir, from a book called Working in Television written in 1980 by Jan Leeming, who worked at Pebble Mill for a time. The aim was to encourage young people to think about careers in television. David went on to become a successful multi-camera director.

Thanks to Jonathan Dick for sharing the photo, who has sadly died since sharing the excerpts.

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Gordon Astley: ‘I first met David in the ‘60s when he came into my dad’s petrol station In Hall Green . As I filled up his sports car we got chatting and he told me about the T.O. Course at Wood Norton. That was the start of my 40 year broadcasting career. We met a few times over the years and I only once committed the cardinal sin of calling him ‘Dave’.’

Daytime Live – Helen O’Rahilly

Helen O’Rahilly outside Pebble Mill, copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

My first BBC job….1988-89…researcher at Daytime Live. Great days, great people: Simon Shaw, Mary Clyne, David Morgenstern, Vikki Kimm, David Lancaster, David Weir, Alan Titchmarsh, Judi Spiers….loved the Friday baltis with the team in Moseley. A wonderful place that welcomed this young Irish woman from RTE. Fond memories.

Helen O’Rahilly

Daytime Live at Long Lartin Prison

Daytime Live from Long Lartin Prison, circa March 1987. A really interesting OB. Glad to leave afterwards. Bonnie Tyler was a sport and did the music slot!

Mike Johnston

This was almost certainly a BBC Bristol OB truck.

Included in the photo are, left to right: Mike Johnston (FM), Simon Shaw (producer), David Weir (director), Jo Dewar just behind David, Pamela Armstrong (presenter).

Please add a comment if you can identify others.

Tom O’Connor Roadshow – group shots at the bar!

Mary Sanchez, Mark Botfield, Jane Mclean, Steve Weddle, Jo Dewar

David Weir, Jane Mclean, Bev Wildman (now Thompson), comedian, Peter Hercombe, Caroline Marshall

A couple of after show sessions in the bar at different locations during the run of the Tom O’Connor Roadshow in 1987.

Included in the top photo are AFM Mary Sanchez, PAs Jane Mclean, and Jo Dewar, and producer Steve Weddle. In the lower photo are studio director, David Weir, PA Jane Mclean, music researcher/AP Bev Wildman, comedian, exec Peter Hercombe and music researcher/AP Caroline Marshall.

Thanks to Jane Mclean for sharing the photos.