Tag: John Williams

Space Station Milton Keynes – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photographs by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

‘Space Station Milton Keynes’ was a Screen Two drama written and directed by Leslie Stewart.  It went out in 1985.  Colin Rogers was the producer, John Williams the DOP, and Steve Saunderson cameraman.

The drama tells the story of a young girl fostered in a magical city.  It starred Penny Murray, Patricia Garwood, Peter Jonfield, Judy Gridley, Gian Sammarco, Nigel Baguley, and Robert Walker.

The first photo shows (l to r) Ian McNulty (grips), Leslie Stewart (writer/director), Steve Saunderson (camera), Colin Rogers (producer), John Williams (DOP).  The second tracking shot photo, shows Leslie Stewart and Colin Rogers running, and Steve Saunderson on camera. The final photo includes John Cole (sound), Steve Saunderson (camera), with John Williams (DOP) foreground left, with probably Leslie Stewart and Colin Rogers (producer).

 

Save

Save

Save

Golden Oldie Picture Show – He Ain’t Heavy

Photos by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

The Golden Oldie Picture Show ran from 1985-88 and was presented by Radio 1 DJ, Dave Lee Travis.  The show consisted of specially shot music videos, created for popular hits recorded before music videos were routinely made.  Individual directors suggested the tracks they’d like to create videos for, so there were a myriad of styles of both videos and music, linked by DLT.

These photos are from a shoot which cameraman John Williams directed for the hit ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother’.  It was shot at a centre for young people with disabilities which John had a connection with.  The resulting film was poignant and uplifting.  There are several versions of the ballad, including recordings by The Hollies and Neil Diamond.  I’m not sure which version was used for the film.

The photos show John Williams (white shirt, pale blue trousers), grips Jimmy Monk (bent over by Variety Club van) and Keith Schofield (crouched by van).

Thanks to Gail Herbert for sharing the photos.

John Williams, Jimmy Monk, Keith Schofield

That’s a Wrap! – Andy Meikle’s farewell

Order of Service - Andy's funeral

Andy Meikle’s funeral today was a bitter sweet occasion.  It was sad to be saying goodbye to a man who was loved and appreciated by so many people – for his humour, his positive attitude on life and his ability to get stuck in and complete the task in hand, whether that task was a television programme, a DIY job, or some other project.

A lone piper led the cortege into the Crematorium and to the Chapel.  There was standing room only inside, and the service is one he would have approved of – a celebration of Andy’s life, rather than all sadness and tears.  The coffin was banded with tape – the lower layer advised ‘handle with care’, whilst the upper one said ‘this way up’.  Andy would certainly have appreciated the thought – and that health and safety was important to the end!

The service consisted of some well chosen readings, including a verse read by Jon Meikle (Andy’s eldest son), and a beautifully written poem by one of Andy’s grandchildren, Holly, as well as moving memories about Andy’s life at the BBC and beyond by John Williams, and about his childhood and youth by his brother, David.  David Hogg (Nicola Silk’s partner) spoke eloquently about his memories of Andy.  There were smiles as well as tears – and the service was a certainly a celebration of life rather than a commemoration of death.

It was fitting to see so many former BBC colleagues, and old friends, at Andy’s send off – and lovely to share thoughts of him with them.

There was also a silver lining for me, in meeting up with some of the people who’ve contributed to this website – but that I hadn’t known before!

Our thoughts are with Steph and family, and with Andy’s sons and family at this sad time.

Vanessa

Top Gear – Gail Herbert’s photos

Photos copyright of Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

Top Gear, now known as ‘old Top Gear’, was produced at BBC Pebble Mill from 1977-2001.  It was a 30 min magazine show about cars and motor transport.  The presenters included Noel Edmunds, Angela Rippon, Jeremy Clarkson, Tiff Needell, William Woollard, Michelle Newman, Chris Goffey, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Barlow, Tony Mason and Quentin Willson.

When production of Top Gear moved to London in 2002 some of the Birmingham production team, and presenters (Vicki Butler-Henderson, Adrian Simpson, Tiff Needell) moved to Fifth Gear on Channel 5.

Thanks to Gail Herbert, who was a production assistant on Top Gear for making her photos available.  The photos date from around 1990 and include shots of presenters William Woollard and Tiff Needell, producer Ken Pollock, directors Dennis Jarvis and David Wheeler, cameraman John Williams, sound men Tony Wass and Alex Christison, and production assistants Gail Herbert and Sophie Marsh.

David Wheeler, who is featured in these photos, sitting on a donkey, makes the following comment:

Tony Mason thought it would be amusing to do a PTC from a “4×4” for use on the sand at Weston-Super-Mere. But when I called his bluff he requested that I test drive the thoroughbred before he risked his rally-bred bottom on the beast! After some reassurance he delivered the PTC… ending: “… but I don’t think Nellie here is quite up to it, so I’ll have to find some better transport”. I seem to remember tracking from an open land rover and editing the piece to Echo Beach (Martha and the Muffins) which has a great intro and fab sax solo! Great memories.. enhanced by my trip home in the Astra 2litre, 16valve GTE… “space rocket” as I recall Gail called it!

Gail test driving a Porsche

King and Company – photos by Gail Herbert

Photos by Gail Herbert – no reproduction without permission.

King and Company was a series produced at  Pebble Mill by  executive producer John King.  It featured wildlife cameraman, Simon King (John’s son) on wildlife filming assignments with different celebrities.  It went out in 1988.  The featured celebrities included Wendy Richard, Liza Goddard, Mark McManus, David Essex, Toyah Willcox.  The filming subjects included deer, dormice, frogs, salmon, and golden eagles.

Gail’s photos show filming taking place, and the crews involved.  Gail was the production assistant, Tony Rayner the producer.  The cameramen include John Couzens, Alan Duxbury, John Williams, Dave Evans, Keith Froggatt, sound recordists include Alex Christison and Tony Wass.

Sebastian the Golden Eagle