John Greening – Page 5 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Rachel and The Roarettes

‘Rachel and The Roarettes’ was a ‘Summer Season’ drama, produced at Pebble Mill and transmitted in 1985. It was written by Jude Alderson

Also starred Gary Oldman (his 1^st TV and his part was entirely cut), and Josie Lawrence (her 1^st TV). It was directed by Rob Walker, and produced by Roger Gregory. Carol Parks was the Production Associate and David Attwood the Production Manager. Phil Wilson was the camera supervisor, Roger Sutton the vision mixer, Jane Barton and Bobbie Chapman were the production assistants. Vivien Oldham was the make-up designer, Sally Engelbach the production designer and Kathryn Ayerst the costume designer and Tony Fisher the graphic designer.

The drama was recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill.

Photo includes,L to R: James Grout, Deborah Poplett, Linda Rolan

‘Rachel and the Roarettes’ was a rock musical….lesbian bikers in the present, highway women in the 17^th century, like you did in 1984!

Thanks to John Greening for much of the information and for making the photo available.

Survival of the Fittest – photo from John Greening

‘Survival of the Fittest’ was a 1990 Screen One drama, produced at Pebble Mill by Carol Parks, written by Julian Mitchell, and directed by Martyn Friend. John Greening was the production manager.

The drama starred Timothy West as Geoffrey Cowper, Jean Anderson as Molly Cowper, Nerys Hughes as Betty Trinder, Elizabeth Spriggs as Eileen Blackett, Timothy Davies as Chris Trinder and Joanna Brookes as June Trinder.

L to R: Martyn Friend (director), David Bell (focus puller, blue jacket), Ian McNulty (grip), Steve Saunderson (camera), Jane Barton (script supervisor).

This is History Gran – photo from John Greening

‘This is History Gran’ was written by Robert Holman and produced at Pebble Mill in 1986. It was set in the 1930’s and present day and starred Paul Jesson, Liz Bradley, Gina McKee, Martin Walker, Mark Rylance and Peter Howell.

Sarah Pia Anderson the director, Carol Parks the producer, Sue Bennett-Urwin 1st assistant director, Bill Hartley the production manager, John Greening the assistant floor manager. John Kenway was the director of photography.

The story involves Lord Edward Langbaurgh making a shocking discovery whilst walking in the grounds of his country home. The discover affects the Chapman family in a nearby town. Christopher Chapman decides to investigate.

All Together Now – photo from John Greening

‘All Together Now’ was a play about a brass band (mildly comic) and a pre cursor to the Pete Postlethwaite film ‘Brassed Off’. Clive Swift, is the father of gardening presenter Joe Swift, and later went on to work on ‘Keeping Up Appearances’. The play was originally a theatre piece, playing at the Nottingham Playhouse, amongst others.

Clive Swift has identified those in the photo, and makes the following comments: from left to right the actors are Ann Hockney (an amateur I think), Chrissy Roberts, ME, Alan Starkey, Michael Griffiths. The play, directed by Robin Midgley and written by Peter Buckman, was debuted at The Haymarket Theatre, LEICESTER, on 1979. (It later played at the Greenwich theatre, London, with Tony Steedman replacing me in the lead, and was televised on BBC 1 during the 1980′s, with me again). Director David Attwood’s debut.

Bad Company – photo from John Greening

‘Bad Company’ was a two part drama based on the 1978 Carl Bridgewater murder case. The two parter was a dramatisation of the investigation into the murder of the 13 year old paper boy; the police case resulted in the conviction of four men in 1979. It was directed by David Drury, written by Don Shaw and produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr.

The photo includes (L to R) Ken Stott, Noel Paley, ? (focus puller), John Greening (1^st AD), Paul Gooch, Lesley Thomas (wardrobe), Chris Parr (producer) (behind post).

Other cast – George Irving, Jonnie Lee Miller, Susan Wooldridge, Brian McGrath, Mark Drewry.

Dawn Mears (Trotman) remembers working on the drama:

“I edited part 1 and John Rosser edited part 2. Adam Trotman was my assistant and Lynne Hawkins was John’s. It won an RTS. Bobbie Chapman was the PA nad David Drury the Director. It had a very strong cast, Ken Stott in particular was marvellous.”