John Couzens – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

GTC Award to Pebble Mill Camera Department

Copyright resides with the original holders no reproduction without permission

This was the presentation of the GTC’s (Guild of Television Camermen) TiCA (Television Cameraman’s Award) to the Pebble Mill camera department for Pebble Mill at One circa 1979.

The names are as follows:

Back (L to R): Doug Smith, Robin Sunderland, Bob Meikle, Don Cooper, Paul Woolston, Tony Wigley, Phil Wilson, Mike Solomons (GTC Chairman from Thames TV), Brian Cave, Jim Gray, Bob Hubbard, Chris Allen, not sure (perhaps Phil Sidey?), Jack Rooke, Keith Salmon, Dave Lawson, Dave Doogood, Dave Wilkins, Pete Edwards, Tim Konewko, Bhasker Solanki.

Kneeling down (L to R): Barrie Foster, Keith ‘Scouse’ Brook, Roger Mulliner, Dave Ballantyne, John Couzens, Eric Wise

(Thanks to James French for providing the names, Annie Gumbley Williams for sending me the photo and to Roger Mulliner for sharing it in the first place).

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

Richard Stevenson: ‘That is an amazing picture! I have never seen so many cameramen in ties! Brilliant.’

Lynn Cullimore: ‘They all look so young and thats because they were – then. hah.’

Bob Bishop: ‘There are no women in the photograph, would that be the same today.’

Keith Brook (Scouse): ‘We were told to dress up by management. Bhaskar Solanki, far right (physically, not politically) went on to be a very, very successful news cameraman and is now a senior producer. Good for him!! I should also mention that I’m the only one wearing a waistcoat. Even then, standards were sloppy!!’

Tony Wigley

Tony Wigley on crane, Keith Froggatt swinging, photo from James French, no reproduction without permission.

John Couzens talks to director, Tony Wigley on crane, Richard Reynolds on boom. Photo by James French, no reproduction without permission.

Tony Wigley, senior cameraman at BBC Birmingham, died this weekend (September 20th 2015). Tony worked on both drama and factual programmes, and was married to Dawn Robertson, from the Drama Department. Tony worked tirelessly for the BBC during his career.

The photos are from The Old Curiosity Shop, recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill, which was transmitted in December 1979.

The Car’s The Star

Image copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without pemission.

The Car’s The Star was a series about classic cars, presented by Quentin Willson. It began in 1994. Quentin would tell the story of a particular car, which was interspersed with interviews from its various owners. Jon Bentley was the series producer, with Dennis Adams as executive producer. David Lowe wrote the theme music. Brian Watkiss and Peter Shannon were editors on the early episodes, Gary Vollans did the graphics, and the cameramen included Keith Schofield, John Couzens, Nigel Davey, and Keith Froggatt.

The following comment was added on the Pebble Mill Facebook group:

Andrew Chorlton: ‘I recorded at least two episodes, Citroen DS and Land Rover, messrs Couzens and Foster on camera respectively. Highlights? Taking a DS down the runway at RAF Wroughton with one wheel removed and checking into a hotel down south with John Wilcox who’s room had been booked in the name of Sir John Wilcox.’

The Old Curiosity Shop

Jim Gray

Tony Wigley on Mole crane, Jim Gray on 4

Tony Wigley on crane, Keith Froggatt swinging

Tony Wigley on Mole crane, Keith Forggatt swinging and Martyn Suker

John Couzens talks to director, Tony Wigley on crane, Richard Reynolds on boom

Closing credits, Jim Gray back to camera

Studio A

The Old Curiosity Shop was a nine part series which went out in from December 1979 to February 1980. Barry Letts was the producer, Julian Amyes the director, Alistair Bell the script editor, William Trevor wrote the script adaptation, Michael Edwards was the production designer and Peter Booth was the lighting designer.

The cast included Sebastian Shaw as grandfather, Trevor Peacock as Daniel Quilp, Natalie Ogle as Little Nell, Granville Saxton as Dick Swiveller, Wensley Pithey as the Single Gentlemen, and Christopher Fairbank as Kit Nubbles.

The photos are of:

Jim Gray
Tony Wigley on Mole crane, Jim Gray on 4
Tony Wigley on crane & Keith Froggatt swinging.
Tony Wigley on Mole crane, Keith Froggatt swinging & Martyn Suker tracking.
A typical set
John Couzens, with arms folded, talks to the director (Julian Amyes). Tony Wigley on Mole crane, Richard Reynolds on boom.
Doing the closing credits. Jim Gray back to camera. Scene hands’ names may be Dick & Phil?

Thanks to James French for sharing the photos.

Three Degrees on Pebble Mill at One

Here is a still of the American female vocal group, The Three Degrees performing on ‘Pebble Mill at One’ in the Foyer (Studio C). The line up of The Three Degrees changed over the years; they originally formed in 1963.

It probably dates from the early 1980s.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook:

Tracy Crump:’ yep got the signed scripts from that one’.

Keith Brook: ‘I vision mixed that item. We pre-recorded three tunes and I still have the video!! John Couzens and Jim Gray were two of the cameramen. BTW, it wasn’t called Studio C at that point.

It wasn’t until it got it’s own gallery was it called Studio C. Before that we used Studio B cameras and gallery Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Studio A cameras/gallery were used Tuesday and Friday. This was because Wednesday and Thursday were drama days in A, and Friday had the Asian programme in B.’