Eric Crouch – What Was Pebble Mill?

The Franchise Affair – James French & Keith Salmon

The Franchise Affair was a six-part drama series that went out on BBC1 on Sunday afternoon in 1988. It was directed by Leonard Lewis and starred Patrick Malahide. Much of the series was shot in Church Stretton, where all these photographs were taken. Photos by Keith Salmon and James French.

John Trew (grip) and Keith Salmon (Camera Supervisor). Elemac dolly with Reg Allen arm, Vinten Swan panning head and Ikegami HL-79E.

Sam-Master Crane. James French (focus pulling) Keith Salmon on Camera. Nick Johnson (sound), Fred Jobling on cable.

Sam-Master Crane. Keith Salmon on camera. Leonard Lewis (director) watches the monitor.

Sam-Master Crane. Keith Salmon on camera.

Keith Salmon on Egripment Tulip Crane. Leonard Lewis (director) is below. John Trew (rigger) with white gloves by the crane.

Keith Salmon on crane.

Eric Crouch (spark), Louise Willcox (sound), Keith Salmon (camera) & John Trew (grip).

John Trew (grip), Louise Willcox (sound), Keith Salmon (camera) & Eric Crouch (Spark).

Grips/Riggers: Fred Jobling, George Stephenson, John Trew & Dennis Wintermantle.

James French & Keith Salmon on Sam-Master Crane.

James French & Keith Salmon on Sam-Master Crane.

Nick Johnson on the sound boom, James French on camera, Dennis Wintermantle (grip) and Leonard Lewis (director)

Patrick Malahide and Keith Salmon (camera supervisor)

Keith Salmon operating Ikegami HL-79E with Canon 8×6 lens.

Roadside shoot

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Thanks to Kevin Lakin for sharing this photograph.

The photo, probably dates from the early 1980s, and shows, left to right, John Couzens on camera, Eric Crouch (electrician), Andy Payne (cameraman, probably an assistant at this time), Tim Green (sound recordist).

Please add a comment if you can identify the shoot.

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The Franchise Affair – photo by Dave Bushell

The ‘Franchise Affair’ was a 6 part serial, which I think was hosted at Pebble Mill from London. It was transmitted in 1988. Terrance Dicks was the producer, Leonard Lewis the director, and Phillippa Giles the script editor. Dave Bushell was the lighting director and Rob Hinds the production designer.

The story was about a mother and daughter, living in a house called The Franchise, who are accused of kidnapping a 15 year old girl and making her work as a servant. See BFI database: http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/417012

‘Took this shot while we were shooting ‘The Franchise Affair’ at Bewdley station in 1988. I don’t think any work is going on – just three guys examining a very large ‘Boy’s Toy’. I think it’s Tom Beach (Props Buyer) on the left with Keith Moreton (chargehand electrician) and Eric Crouch (electrician).’

Dave Bushell