Lesley Thomas – What Was Pebble Mill?

Costume Department Reunion 1999 – photo from Ruth Kiosses

Photo from Ruth Kiosses, no reproduction without permission.

This photo was taken at a reunion of the Costume Department in 1999. It was held at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Included in the photo are: Muriel Hewitt (front, red hair) Anne Mills (behind Muriel), Anne-Marie Morrell (on left in red, back row), next to Russell Barnett (senior costume designer), Lesley Thomas (mustard scarf), Maria Hurley, Annie Doling, Hilary Anne Hughes, Eileen Hubble, Pat Hadley, Linda Hill, Dawn Booth Brent Fulwood, Karen Bevins, Clive Ashman, Rossie Russon, Janice Rider (senior costume designer, back row in black), Liz Fahy, Wendy Schofield, Mark Ridley (dresser), Patricia Hodge Robinson (in blue on back row), Colin Jones (dresser, back row, black top), next to Sally Pearson (designer, fuchsia cardigan), Rachel Selby (2nd row extreme right). From left next to Muriel: Joyce Hawkins (senior costume designer); Bobby Gale (former dresser, now deceased); Gill Hardie (designer). Behind Bobby Gale – Vee Layton (designer, now deceased); to the left of Rachel Selby, in turquoise – Christine Grainger (costume assistant); to the left of Mark Ridley – Alison Mitchell. To the right of Janice Rider is Terry Patterson (designer). To Ann Doling’s left is Paul Patterson (MFS); Ginnie Hardy (designer); next to Ginnie – Al Barnett (senior costume designer); next to Al – Stephanie Hazeldine (designer). Tessa Wyatt ? – behind Paul Patterson.

Please add a comment if you can identify others, or can add more information

Bad Company – photo from John Greening

‘Bad Company’ was a two part drama based on the 1978 Carl Bridgewater murder case. The two parter was a dramatisation of the investigation into the murder of the 13 year old paper boy; the police case resulted in the conviction of four men in 1979. It was directed by David Drury, written by Don Shaw and produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr.

The photo includes (L to R) Ken Stott, Noel Paley, ? (focus puller), John Greening (1^st AD), Paul Gooch, Lesley Thomas (wardrobe), Chris Parr (producer) (behind post).

Other cast – George Irving, Jonnie Lee Miller, Susan Wooldridge, Brian McGrath, Mark Drewry.

Dawn Mears (Trotman) remembers working on the drama:

“I edited part 1 and John Rosser edited part 2. Adam Trotman was my assistant and Lynne Hawkins was John’s. It won an RTS. Bobbie Chapman was the PA nad David Drury the Director. It had a very strong cast, Ken Stott in particular was marvellous.”

Costume and Design – photos by Laura McNeill

Photographs copyright of Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

These photos feature various costume and design staff at Pebble Mill, amongst others – mostly taken at parties. They include: Terry Powell, Paul Gooch, Ray Holman, Peter Lloyd, John Ellis, Jacqui Pratt, Maggie Thomas, Diane Lester, Al Barnett, Tracey, Sally Holden, Cathy Ayerst, Lesley Thomas, Carl Dolan, Conrad Fletcher.