Joyce Hawkins – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Prometheus: The Life of Balzac 1975

Save

Prometheus: Life of Balzac, by Andre Maurois, was adapted for television by David Turner. It was transmitted in autumn 1975 on BBC2. The producer was Richard Beynon, with director, Joan Craft. Derek Hobday was lighting director, with Lennox Phillips as script editor, and Margaret Peacock, the designer. Joyce Hawkins was costume designer, and the photograph is made available by Joyce.

The photo shows Nicky Henson as Balzac, with Nanette Newman playing Countess Even Hanska.

The series would have been recorded in Studio A at Pebble Mill.

Save

Hilda Lessways 1959

Save

Thanks to costume designer, Joyce Hawkins, for making this photograph of Judi Dench, playing Hilda Lessways, in the eponymous role, in the 1959 studio drama, from Gosta Green, available. Hilda Lessways was a six part adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s novel, ‘Clayhanger’. It was produced by Peter Dews, dramatised by Michael Voysey, and designed by Margaret Peacock. Note that Violet Carson, who went on to become Ena Sharples in Coronation Street, played the character, Auntie Hamps.

Below is the entry from the Radio Times, courtesy of the BBC Genome project:

Synopsis

A serial in six parts.
Based on ‘Clayhanger’ and ‘Hilda Lessways’ by Arnold Bennett.
Dramatised by Michael Voysey.

[Starring] Judi Dench, William Squire
With Brian Smith, Violet Carson
From the BBC’s Midland television studio

Contributors

Author: Arnold Bennett
Dramatised by: Michael Voysey
Producer: Peter Dews
Designer: Margaret Peacock

Hilda Lessways: Judi Dench
Mrs Lessways: Beatrice Varley
Mrs Grant: Alison Bayley
Clerk: Philip Garston-Jones
George Cannon: William Squire
Florrie Bagster: Jacqueline Wilson
Janet Orgreave: Miranda Connell
Sarah Galley: Nancie Jackson
Mr Karkeek: David Lytton
Edwin Clayhanger: Brian Smith
Auntie Hamps: Violet Carson
Maggie Clayhanger: Eileen Atkins
Darius Clayhanger: Chris Gittins
Post Boy: Paul Taylor

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/023f8773118e4d5e985029334e7d5f1a

Save

Nanny – Goats and Tigers

Save

This is the cast and crew list, and scene breakdown for one of the episodes (Goats and Tigers) of the drama series, Nanny, starring Wendy Craig. The episode was transmitted in February 1981 on BBC1. It was a London production, hosted at Pebble Mill, and recorded in Studio A.

The pages have been shared by costume assistant, Rachel Selby. It is interesting to see her hand written notes on the sheets, and the crossing through, when the scene had been completed.

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

Lesley Weaver: ‘Wonderful time for me as a Make up lady and I was lucky enough to work on all three series.’

Susan Astle: ‘Wendy was such a great person, all us make up ladies loved working with her.’

Chris Rogers: ‘I loved this series it has never been repeated on other channels? Wendy Craig is fabulous.’

Raymond Lee: ‘Never worked directly on the series but remember vividly showing Wendy Craig how to use the canteen coffee/tea machine!!’

Keith Brook: ‘Oh, that brings back memories. What a wonderful series to work on.’

Save

All Memories Great and Small – part 6, Janice Rider

All Creatures Great and Small cast, 1989. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

Here is the next excerpt from “All Memories Great & Small” by Oliver Crocker:

Memories from Janice Rider (Costume Assistant on 1978 series, and Costume Designer on 4 episodes in the 1989 series):

‘I first worked for the BBC in 1976 and sometime after making a couple of period costumes for Joyce Hawkins, I was offered a seven week contract as a Dresser on the first series of Poldark. My enthusiasm was soon dashed however, when after I had revealed to the designer during the second studio recording that I had never worked on location before, I found myself unceremoniously ditched from the show… it never pays to be too honest! However, because the BBC had to honour the contract, I was transferred onto The Sheik of Pickersgill as Costume Assistant which was, ironically, a mini promotion! From then on I continued as a Costume Assistant and in 1978 began working on All Creatures Great and Small with Anne Barfield.’

60 cast and crew have shared their memories for this new book, which is available to preorder now from Miwk – http://bit.ly/2d7p5ts

Save

All Memories Great and Small – part 4 Joyce Hawkins

Excerpt from “All Memories Great & Small” by Oliver Crocker

Memories from Joyce Hawkins (Senior Costume Supervisor)

‘I remember Head of Planning, Eric Holmes, asking me if my department would be able to cope with a long-running series based on the James Herriot books. Thirteen years before Pebble Mill, I was the Midland region’s only costume designer. I was based at the Gosta Green Studio, from where I designed 64 plays, 4 serials, 8 series and 5 twice-weekly “Soaps” all in and around Birmingham. All rehearsal rooms and costume suppliers are based in London, so I was well aware of the complexities posed by rehearsing in London, recording in Birmingham and filming in Yorkshire, but now I had a Staff of very talented people, so of course I told Eric “Yes”.

60 cast and crew have shared their memories for this new book, which is available to preorder now from Miwk – http://bit.ly/2d7p5ts

Save

Joyce Hawkins speaking at mac screening 2016

Save