Jane Maclean – What Was Pebble Mill?

Andy Payne’s funeral service

Jane Maclean posted this message on Facebook on 5th August 2016:

For friends who were unable to be with us at Andy’s funeral today. It was wonderful – lots of brilliant eulogies including those from all his children. How they did it is beyond me. They were amazing. The church was rammed – standing room only – we reckoned there were as near as dammit 400. It was great to see so many old mates – but such a shame we only seem to see each other at funerals these days. A fabulous tribute to fabulous Andy. It was all quite surreal.

(Here is the service from Andy’s funeral service)

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Tony Inchley’s Retirement Photo

The photo features, left to right: David Waine, Head of Building; Tony Inchley, Radio WM Manager; Pat De Whalley, Radio WM presenter. It was taken on the occasion of Tony’s retirement presentation.

Thanks to Pat De Whalley for sharing the photo.

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

Eric Smith: ‘Worked at Radio Stoke when Tony was News Editor there in 1979.
I remember a potteries union leader coming in and asking to see Tony, who was on holiday at the time.
He wouldn’t speak to any body else and came back with the story for our exclusive use when Tony returned.’

Tim Beech: ‘Tony gave me my first BBC job at WM in 1989. At the time the station was under threat of closure because of poor audience figures, but under Tony’s management the numbers were transformed. A quarter of a century on I’m a station manager myself and if I’m even half as good as Tony was I’d be completely thrilled. I learned so much and there probably wouldn’t have been a radio station post 1991 without him. I owe him a great deal and so does everyone who’s worked at WM since.’

Gregory M Hallsworth: ‘I think that must have been about 1995. LR could do with more radio people like Tony in charge these days!’

Maurice Blisson: ‘I worked with Tony at Radio Stoke and Radio WM. Great man.’

Jane McLean: ‘I still have my autograph book! And cut glass whisky glasses engraved with my name and dates of employment. All that’s missing is RIP. They’ve NEVER been out of the box!’

Donald Steel: ‘Tony Inchley was just brilliant and he was really great at telling you when he liked something you had done. And if you popped into his office to see him at the right time you got a gin and tonic.’

Jane Upston: ‘Maiden name Jane Morgan. I worked in the ‘Personnel’ Dept from 1984 to 1992. I left after maternity leave and I think Tony Inchley was still there then. I remember David Waine, Colin Adams, Jenny Brewer, Dawn Robertson and many others in the Network TV Department.’

Roland Allen: ‘My late Sister, Marion Allen was Senior Personnel Manager for the Midlands’ Local Radio stations and News around that time…’

Janet Bacon: ‘Worked with Marion Allen and then David Robey. Brilliant times at Pebble Mill, Tony’

Vicky King: ‘I was there 1987 to 1995 with Jane Morgan and Marion Allen – I remember Tony well – what great times we had at Pebble Mill’

Morning Surgery

Morning Surgery was a factual medical show presented by GP, Dr Mark Porter, and Lydia Thomas. The aim was to take the mystery out of medical matters. It was a spin off programme from Good Morning with Anne and Nick, where Dr Mark Porter was a regular contributor on medical phone-ins. The show went out in June and September 1993. The show was recorded in Studio C, the Foyer.

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

Sarah Dunning: ‘Tony Fisher’s logo design methinks?’

Sue Robinson: ‘I directed it but I can’t remember ANYTHING about who else worked on it or when it went out! The one thing I do remember is that Mark and Lydia used to get the most ridiculous giggles about virtually all of the more “sensitive” subjects. It was great fun.’

Helen Taylor: ‘I certainly do, I produced it!!! It was a 15 minute programme and for some reason I remember doing an item on febrile convulsions! Absolutely remember Sue directing and I think Tony did design the logo. Claire Stride nursed me through my first foray into producing.’

Jane Maclean: ‘I was the PA! And even before I read Sue’s comment, my first thought was Mark and Lydia completely corpsing. Other than that, can’t remember….’

Break time on CMCR9

This photo is of break time on the outside broadcast scanner, CMCR9 – Pebble Mill’s first CM1.

The liquid refreshment seems to be beer, as opposed to tea!

Sitting on the stool is Engineering Manager, Bob Chaplin. Bottom left may be Steve Searley. Sitting on the ground, possibly John Allinson. The other man may be Peter Hodges.

Thanks to Janet Collins, John Duckmanton and Jane Maclean for identifying the heads!

CM1 and CM2 last OB

Photograph by Diane Reid, no reproduction without permission.

The photo is of the last outside broadcast from Pebble Mill, by the scanners CM1 and CM2. It was a live Sunday morning worship from Edenham. The day started with bacon butties made by friendly parishioners and riggers’ tea!

Included are l-r, Tim Konewko, Steve Pierson, John Allinson, ?, ?, Phil Wilson, JJ Moore, ?, Jack Rooke, John Brierley, Robin Sunderland, Dave Ballantyne, Colin the big strong rigger,John Kimberley (I think), Ron the rigger supervisor at the back, Rod Bach (blue jacket to keep you in sync!!), then a bunch of ‘don’t knows’ until we come to Ray Bradbury (or Bradley) in black jacket and open shirt, Ron Pickering, Pat Childs, Roger Sutton and finally Norman Macloud (sp) on the right.

(Thanks to Keith Brook (Scouse), Jane Maclean and Janet Collins for identifying so many former colleagues).