John Smith – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pebble Mill at One, HMS Dreadnought – David Weir

Pebble Mill at One: HMS Dreadnought – 14/2/80 ………..
And…..cue the submarine”.

With those words [surely one of the best ever cues over talkback!] John Smith, the Director, began yet another “first” for the Pebble Mill @ One team with a live broadcast from a nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought, near Faslane off the west coast of Scotland on the 14th February, 1980. The submarine took it’s cue, broke through the surface of the choppy Firth of the Clyde and appeared in all it’s glory to the music of the opening title sequence. What happened next – I will never forget.

John Smith was an inspirational Producer/Director and not exactly known for taking “No” or “It can’t be done” for an answer. He was the driving force behind many of Pebble Mill’s ambitious live programmes – particularly those involving the military.

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Harrier landing 1982

Here is a photo from Keith Warrender of the landing of the Harrier in 1982, during an episode of Pebble Mill at One. It was one of director John Smith’s episodes. You’ll see the new club building visible on the right of the picture, which hadn’t been open long. Keith thinks he must have popped in to the Club for a lunchtime drink after taking this picture on an off-shift day from TAR (Technical Apparatus Room).

Pot Black team

This photo is of key members of the Pot Black team. Left to right: John Smith, director; Jane Mclean, PA; Steve Davis, snooker player; Jim Dumighan, series producer. Pot Black was the BBC’s snooker tournament which was broadcast from 1969. It was produced at Pebble Mill. Steve Davis won the tournament in 1982. The photo dates from 1991 and was published in Midlands News.

Thanks to Jim Dumighan for sharing the photo.

Midlands News Sept 1991

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page by Jane McLean:

“This is the piece – Midlands News September 1991. Can’t remember when Smithy started up White Rabbit but 1991 will be about right. Two things I remember well – Ronnie O’Sullivan won the first Junior Pot Black I did aged about 15 (him not me) and was incredibly embarrassed when I congratulated him. He was only a sprog and so shy. When I started Pot Black, I hadn’t a clue how snooker worked. Just before we went into the Gallery, Smithy told me it was up to me to keep score – like only Smithy could. The TM – can’t remember which – gave me a lesson and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Sea King helicopter on Pebble Mill at One

Photos by Julian Sharp, no reproduction without permission

Sea King helicopter landing on the front lawn during a Pebble Mill at One broadcast, no doubt a John Smith production. Notice the fire engine on Pebble Mill Road, just in case!

Joan Armatrading

These screen grabs are from the 1985, Joan Armatrading concert from the NEC, simulcast on BBC 2 and Radio 1, on 4th and 11th April. John Smith was the director, and Annie Gumbley Williams was the PA. Below is the entry from the Radio Times, courtesy of the BBC Genome project:

“The exciting singer songwriter, soon to embark on another long world concert tour, makes a rare British television appearance in a concert recorded recently at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
In her repertoire,
Joan Armatrading mixes previous chart successes with contemporary material, including ‘Love and affection’, ‘Heaven’ and ‘Temptation’.
Producer JOHN G. SMITH BBC Pebble Mill
A simultaneous broadcast with Radio 1. Viewers with stereo Radio 1 may wish to turn off TV sound and position their speakers on either side of the screen, but a few feet away.
Stereo headphones provide a suitable alternative.
(The second half of this concert will be shown next Thursday)”

https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/19c900f984ed49c7a3b6cfe25aa40eec

Thanks to Stuart Allen for making the grabs available.