Kathryn Shuttleworth – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Studio C Sound Gallery – Kathryn Shuttleworth

Carolyn Davies, Andy Freeth, Nick Johnson

Photo by Kathryn Shuttleworth, no reproduction without permission.

The photo is of the Studio C Sound Gallery. Studio C was the Pebble Mill Foyer, which housed shows like ‘Pebble Mill at One’ and ‘Good Morning with Anne and Nick’.

Stuart Gandy added the following comment on Facebook dating the photo: ‘Can’t say exactly, but I am guessing it is mid 90s when Studio C was revamped. The laminate floor and position of the desk is a clue. The original Calrec desk that had been there since the 80s was facing the other way and the floor was carpeted.’

Peter Poole adds: ‘I used the new desk when Studio B was being refurbished. I think it was about 1995.’

Studio A – Kathryn Shuttleworth

Studio A Sound Gallery

This was taken shortly after the Widescreen refurb of Studio A. Which didn’t last long before they decided to shut down the studio. Andy Redfern is at the desk.

Studio A Vision Gallery

David Ashton, vision engineer standing up and seated at the back is Keith Knowles who at that time would have been on the lighting console.

Studio A Gallery

Taken shortly after the Widescreen refurb. Obviously the production team hadn’t arrived when I took this photo!

Studio A Floor

This was the set for a corporate event. As well as making programmes we went through a phase of hosting a few of these for big businesses. I guess it was quite prestigious to hold your annual corporate bash in a TV studio and have a professional recording of the event made.

The Archers Spot Effects – Kathryn Shuttleworth

Studio 3 Spot Effects

One of the most famous effects to do! This all gets very messy but whenever there is a calf being born in Ambridge we reach for the yoghurt, a wet towel and some old tape (we may not record on it these days but it is still of use!). Squelching noises from the yoghurt and the “plop” of a wet towel onto the tape is all it takes to create this masterpiece of an effect! This technique is still used in studio to this day – some things never change!

Kathryn Shuttleworth

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

Peter Poole: ‘I remember recording the Archers in M3 before it all went digital. And the omnibus edit.’

Andy Foley: ‘How we suffer for our art – I once had to violently rip apart a chicken carcass in Studio 3 for someone being garrotted! Not in the Archers I hasten to add! A drama with Timothy West.’

Audio Trainees at Wood Norton – Kathryn Shuttleworth

Group Photo at Wood Norton.

This photo is of the audio trainees who joined Pebble Mill in June 1995. I am the last one standing in Birmingham now but who knows how much longer I will be here!

Back row (left to right): Angela Rowson, John Goda, Ian Mitchell, Nick Ford, Celia Hutchison

Front row (left to right): Guy Worth, Kathryn Shuttleworth, Mark Ward, Lizzie Gilchrist, Lynn Monroe

Kathryn Shuttleworth

Archers for Comic Relief – Kathryn Shuttleworth

Photo from Kathryn Shuttleworth, no reproduction without permission.

The Archers for Comic Relief (The Mailbox)

Of all the people I worked with this brief encounter with Victoria Wood has to go down as one of my favourites. She had written some special episodes of ‘The Archers’ for Comic Relief and came along for the recording. She was very hands on in studio helping with the effects. This was also the only time I have ever asked someone I have worked with for their autograph – well she is my all time comedy hero!

Kathryn Shuttleworth