Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission. L-R back-row: Brian Conway, David Waine, Steve Lee, Gary Hudson, Sue Beardsmore. L-R front-row: Kay Alexander, Roy Saatchi, Rick Thompson, the late Alan Towers.
Thanks to Jonathan Dick for sharing this article from the internal BBC newspaper, Ariel, featuring Midlands Today winning the Royal Television Society award for Best Regional Programme in 1989.
Gardeners’ World is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. Tonight on Midlands Today, there was an item presented by Kay Alexander from Gardeners’ World Live show at the NEC, showing some of the programme’s history.
The link below is to the Midlands Today 6pm show, and will work until the evening of 17th June 2017.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08tkz1f/midlands-today-evening-news-16062017
Below are some grabs from the Midlands Today item.
Mary Rhodes introduces Gardeners’ World’s 50th anniversary
Percy Thrower presenting on Gardeners’ World
Peter Seabrook presenting on Gardeners World
Geoff Hamilton presenting Gardeners’ World at Barnsdale, cameraman Steve Saunderson, director Denis Gartside (red jacket), PA Gail Herbert
Alan Titchmarsh presenting on Gardeners World
Monty Don presenting on Gardeners World
Outside broadcast truck setting up for Gardeners World
Outside broadcast truck interior
Copyright, Colin Pierpoint. My best office at Wood Norton.
Copyright Colin Pierpoint. Robin, seen from the office window.
This is the final part of Colin Pierpoint’s blog.
(After working at BBC Pebble Mill since it opened in 1971, Colin was eventually tempted away).
In June 1980 I got a permanent post as a Lecturer at the Engineering Training Department at Wood Norton, where I had had two previous attachments of a year. I was lucky. The Head of ETD had retired, and the new head was Dr Owen from the Open University, so on the Board I was able to talk about all the OU courses I was studying for my degree. In June 1980 I began my new career, but that didn’t mean that I left Pebble Mill for good. Part of my work was to bring courses of students on a regular trip to Droitwich transmitting station and Pebble Mill. Being recognised by staff I used to work with was very useful, and got us into all areas to see actual operational work going on. (Unlike the tours you get now; where, even if you are ex-staff you don’t even see inside a studio). One Christmas I sent boxes of chocolates to each department in appreciation of all the cooperation I had in the past. I expect they thought I had claimed them back on expenses, but in fact I paid for them myself. I was still well known at Pebble Mill on visits with my students because ex-colleagues who met me would often say “Have you been on leave? Kay Alexander said “What happened to my coffee?”
Colin Pierpoint
The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Stuart Gandy: ‘I remember my visit to Driotwich on my A course, but it was in autumn 1979, the year before you were there Colin. It was especially memorable because during that particular week, there had been some very bad weather and strong winds, which had actually blown down the long aerial wire that was fixed to the two masts. So you can imagine, there was a lot of activity going to to fix it. I remember they guys saying ..its not normally this busy!’
Brian Conway, Jane Ward, Kay Alexander
Ann Banks & Liz Silver
Mary Sanchez & Kay Alexander
Photos from Jane Ward, no reproduction without permission.
These photos are from the Midlands Today reunion, entitled ‘Midlands Yesterday’, held at the Midlands Arts Centre on Saturday 3rd Sept 2016. A good time seems to have been had by all, judging by the smiles!
Here is a selection of photos from the Midlands Today reunion – entitled Midlands Yesterday, held on Saturday 3rd September 2016 at the Midlands Arts Centre. Thanks to Maureen Carter for sharing the photos.
Anita Bhalla, Sue Beardsmore
Ann Gumbley Williams, Jim Knights
Sally Morris and Ann Banks
Jane Ward, Mary Sanchez, Kay Alexander
Maurice Blisson
Pete Shannon, Gary Hudson
Pete Shannon, Maureen Carter
Richard Uridge
Rick Thompson and Gill Thompson
Rick Thompson, Pete Shannon, Jim Knights, Maureen Carter, Cathy Houghton,
Roz Gower and Mike Wilkie
Tony Francis and Roy Saatchi
Sue Beardsmore, Maureen Carter
? and Keith Ackrill
Brian Conway, Kathy Rochford, Sally Morris
Bob Sinkinson, Frances Coverdale, Mike Wilkie, Jim Knights
Gary Hudson and Mark Readman
