Paul Higton – What Was Pebble Mill?

Martin Chuzzlewit – photos from Mark Smithers

Here are some photos from Mark Smithers of ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’, featuring some of the cast. ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’ was produced at Pebble Mill in 1994. With filming all over the Cotswolds and Kings Lynn in Norfolk. Mark remembers that it was a constant surprise turning up on location and being transported back 200 years by the amazing design team.

Costume designer Jeremy Turner won a BAFTA in 1995 for his Chuzzlewit costume designs. His assistant was the talented and knowledgeable Paul Higton, and various pieces were created at Pebble Mill by brilliant seamstresses.

A Sort of Innocence photographs – James French

A Sort of Innocence was recorded in October 1986. James French was cameraman, and has shared and captioned these photos taken on location in Hereford.

Don’t know who the extra is leaning against the wall. Guy with cigarette is Production Manager, Peter Rose; not sure about stripey, guy with white fleck in hair is Director, John Gorrie; lady is Producer, Ruth Boswell; on right is Sound Supervisor, Ray Bailey.

Grip is Ron Fleet, then Director, John Gorrie and me (2nd Camera) on Elemack dolly.

Me and John Gorrie again

Ron and me again in the foreground. Tim Everett holding the sound boom. I think the actor standing is Linus Roache and sitting in the Jaguar XJS is Kenneth Cranham.

Leaning on tripod is Rigger Supervisor, George Stevenson; Grip, Ron Fleet; cable-bashing is Rigger, Barry Clarke; on dolly is Camera Supervisor, Keith Salmon, with back to camera is Tim Everett (sound) and holding the boom pole is Tony Wass.

No caption necessary as all folk are named elsewhere.

Lighting Director, Barry Chatfield with Lastolite.

Grip, Ron Fleet; Rigger, Barry Clarke; Camera Supervisor, Keith Salmon

Lighting technicians (Sparks!): Roger Hynes and Dave Walter, with Rigger Supervisor, George Stevenson.

Dresser, Paul Higton; Designers, Martin Boddison and John Lindlar; Dresser, Shaun Lowe.

Me again (one of my favourite pics – I actually look like I know what I am doing!)

The only additional people on here are the boy, Actor, Neil Jeffery and with his back to us (next to Neil), Actor, Michael Byrne.

More Vote for Them photos in Tenbury Wells

Photos by Roy Thompson, no reproduction without permission.

These photos from the 1989 three part drama: Vote For Them, by David Edgar and Neil Grant, were taken in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. The Regal Cinema stood in for an Egyptian cinema.

Simon Tooley is seen on camera in the second photo, wearing the striped top, with Bob Few holding the tripod, and soundman Andy Redfern in the brown top, to the left, with his mixer on the seat.

Thanks to Keith Brook (Scouse), Peter Knowles and Richard Stevenson for identifying people.

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

Mike Eastman: ‘Played a soldier on this show, but recorded my section at Pebble Mill Studio.’

Janice Rider: ‘Never seen these photos. Thank you Roy for sharing these. There were SO many extras on this show all in uniform!!! You can just see Paul Higton dealing with them in the second photo at the back on the left.’

Vote for Them – cast and crew

This photo shows some of the cast and crew of the 1989, three part drama: Vote for Them, written by David Edgar and Neil Grant. The drama was shot on location in the UK and Egypt. Carol Parks was the producer and James Ormerod, the director.

Please add a comment if you can identify anyone in the photograph, or can add more information. I think it is Alastair (Duncan?) central in the white hat.

Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider, for making the photo available.

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

Terry Powell: ‘Yes that’s me with hair and very bright shorts I loved the show so much with my dear friend Janice rider I have lots of pics and will look them out.’

Janice Rider: ‘Yes it is in Egypt and is Alastair in the foreground. Paul Higton profile in white shirt & long trousers. Me in headscarf and black & white long skirt, Karen Thomas in White vest & shorts on the extreme right. Back left in white hat James Ormerod the director and yes, dear Terry always stylish in the desert!’

Neil Grant: ‘Could be Billy Hartman, fourth from the right, in the foreground?’

Pickwick Papers – photos by Tim Savage

Photos by Tim Savage, no reproduction without permission.

‘Pickwick Papers’ was a BBC drama series from 1985. It was hosted at Pebble Mill. The director was Brian Lighthill, the producer was Barry Letts and the script was written by Terrance Dicks. Bob Chaplin was the lighting designer, Sue Peck and costume designer, Gill Hughes the make-up designer and Myles Lang, the production designer.

The series starred Nigel Stock, Clive Swift (gardening presenter Joe Swift’s father), Jeremy Nicholas, Alan Parnaby, and Colin Douglas.

The first photo features Paul Higton from costume. The subsequent photos show a horse drawn carriage hired for the shoot. The location was a stately home near Telford.

In the carriage photos (l to r): John Couzens (camera) in navy jumper, centre in blue short-sleeved shirt, Elson Godbolt, Dick Bentley, second from right, it is probably David Robinson, to the right of Dick.