Dharmesh Rajput – What Was Pebble Mill?

Mahendra Kaul obituary

The article above is from the Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/other-news/veteran-nri-broadcaster-mahendra-kaul-dies/articleshow/64947726.cms

Mahendra Kaul was one of two producer/presenters who worked in the Immigrants’ Programme Unit at Carpenter Road, and later at Pebble Mill in Birmingham.

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

Dharmesh Rajput: ‘He was a pioneer in South Asian broadcasting in the UK – many of us who worked in the Asian Programmes Unit probably owe our careers to him and the teams behind those early Asian programmes such as Apna Hi Ghar Samajiye (Make Yourself At Home or Think Of This As Your Home) and Nayi Zindagi Naya Jeevan (New Life, New Life). I remember these programmes as staple viewing on Sunday mornings while eating breakfast in the 70s and 80s.’

Ian Collins: ‘I can remember having to edit Urdu under Mahendra’s direction. Whether any of the edits made sense I will never know but he was always happy with the end result.’

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.’

Cafe 21 – series 3

Cafe 21 was an Asian talk show on BBC2 in the late 1990s. Below is part of a press release for the show:

“In November 1997, Café 21 was first broadcast on BBC2, it was regarded as a milestone in Asian programming as it gave young Asians a voice on national television.

During its first series it became a talking point in its own right, tackling issues such as Asian Identity, Families and Sexuality which put the show on the broadcasting map. Challenging British Asian stereotypes has always been of key importance in Café 21, the ‘cornershops and curry’ myth has been exploded ever since the first show.

Café 21 balanced hard hitting opinions and person stories to create what could be described as a ‘chat show – soap’.

There are 20 contributors in the Café, the 21^st being the presenter Rajesh Mirchandani who also presents the BBC music show ‘The Ozone’.

Being on Café 21 has certainly encouraged some of our former contributors to take the plunge into uncharted waters:

First series

Narinder Kaur has since had a part as a gangster girlfriend in a forthcoming ‘Bollywood’ film called London.
Ashish Joshi has his own column in cult Asian magazine ‘Snoop’.
Victor Agarwal became the first Asian local councillor in his borough at the tender age of 24.
Ritu Dhammi has become the drivetime presenter on Radio Sabras in Leicester. She feels being on Café 21 built her confidence as a broadcaster.

Second series

Kevin Sherwani was a struggling stand up comedian, since appearing on Café 21 he has now secured a regular slot on the Comedy Store in London.
Krish Majumdar has since decided on a career in broadcasting by getting a place on ITNs news training scheme.
Anif Abdul became a R&B presenter on London based Kiss FM Radio.

Now the third series is about to go into production and we are looking for contributors. This time however we are opening up to any young person who wants to air their views on television, Asian or non Asian. So if you are between 16 and 29 and have views on Asian issues contact us now!”

Thanks to Dharmesh Rajput for sharing this information.

Network East production team

Network East production team, includes Dharmesh Rajput, Ruth Barretto, Alex Johnston, Jasmine Chandler, Janice Mezzetti

Photo from Ruth Barretto, no reproduction without permission.

The photo shows the production team from the Asian magazine show: Network East.

Heads of Pebble Mill

There were six heads of Pebble Mill during the building’s lifetime, although some were Heads of Network TV, rather than Head of Building. Their tenure seems to get progressively shorter. This information was taken from the BBC Written Archives in Caversham. They were:

Phil Sidey – 1972-82 Head of Building

David Waine – 1983-1992 Head of Building

Rod Natkiel – 1992-1998 Head of Network Television

Kate Marsh – 1998-2001

Paresh Solanki – 2001-2002

Tessa Finch – 2002- end of Pebble Mill

Phil Sidey (right). Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

David Waine. Copyright resides with the original holder no reproduction without permission

Rod Natkiel. Copyright resides with the original holder

Paresh Solanki. Copyright resides with the original holder

Kate Marsh. Copyright resides with the original holder

Tessa Finch. Copyright resides with the original holder

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

Lynne Cullimore: “My favourite is – Phil Sidey who put Pebble Mill on the map! and I liked David Waine who was a very nice man.”

Jane Upston: “I was there during David Waine’s tenure and part of Rod Natkiel’s. I worked in HR (was Jane Morgan then). The people I remember most though were Colin Adams and Jock Gallagher.”

Chris Marshall: “Agreed, David Waine was great to work for. Is that really Rod Natkiel? As for Kate Marsh…”

Carolyn Davies: “David Waine was one of the best ‘heads of’ anything I have ever met. Once you’d met him he always remembered your name and what you did and made a big effort to see those on the shop floor…..”

Dharmesh Rajput: “Wow – I thought there would be more… I started working in TV just end of 1998 whilst still working in radio and having done some work experience in Press & Publicity with Donald Steel’s team – so I remember Rod Natkiel from having to take press cuttings to his office. And then I was in TV and Online till the move to The Mailbox.”

Jane Ward: “Agree with Carolyn… David Waine was a great People Person…”

Viv Ellis: “I agree David Waine rocked. Lovely boss”

Save