Mailbox – Page 3 – What Was Pebble Mill?

The Sky at Night

Patrick Moore

‘The Sky at Night’ has been presented by Sir Patrick Moore since its start in 1957. He has only missed one episode, when he was extremely ill with salmonella in July 2004.

The documentary astronomy programme is transmitted once a month on BBC 2 (and on BBC 4).

The series began life at Lime Grove, and I’m not sure when it came to BBC Birmingham.

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

Peter Poole: ‘I’ve been watching this wonderful programme for years. Only the BBC would produce this fine example of public service broadcasting. Is Birmingham losing this programme as part of the cut backs?’

Mike Workman: ‘Why is it the BBC see fit to ram everything great in Salford, everything interesting in Bristol and everything that makes money in London? They forgotten about the Midlands? Citizen Khan may have had its rushes shot in Sparkhill, but the studio and post was MediaCity. Great going.’

Peter Poole: ‘What’s next for Birmingham? Perhaps the Mailbox will close and Midlands Today will be broadcast from a industrial unit in Redditch.Just think how much money that would save. And why not send the Archers to Salford!’

Mike Workman: ‘After all, Salford is the traditional home for radio drama in these austere times! Let’s just translate the whole BBC North project – two words – last one ‘up’ and first starts with an f.. The slow abandonment of the Midlands by London management is starting to grate, it seems you can only be from the South East or North West if you live in the UK. Midlands Today, meh, just merge it with North West Tonight, it saves money and it’s not like it’s a region in its own right!’

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

Studio C – Walkway Sign

Studio C Walkway Sign

This sign used to hang on the walkway at the back of Studio C at Pebble Mill. Studio C was originally the entrance foyer, which was then converted into the studio for Pebble Mill at One. It was later used for Good Morning with Anne and Nick. At the back of the foyer was a corridor which led to Studio A, Make Up and the dressing rooms. This corridor had to be closed when Studio C was being used, so that people weren’t walking through the back of shot. When the Studio was in use only the top sign was displayed, with the lower one being taken up and down, depending on whether you were allowed to walk through or not.

The sign was rescued by James Patterson from Pebble Mill before it was demolished and is now proudly displayed in the Post Production area of BBC Birmingham, in the Mailbox, next to the sink and the drinks machine!