roger gregory – What Was Pebble Mill?

Days at the Beach

Here is the Radio Times entry for the 1981 Playhouse production, Days at the Beach, starring Julie Walters. It was produced by David Rose, and directed and written by Malcolm Mowbray. John Kenway was the cameraman, with Chris Rowlands being the film editor, and Margaret Peacock being the designer. Roger Gregory was the script editor. Thanks to Roger for keeping the copy safe since 1981.

The following comment was posted on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Steve Saunderson: ‘Days at the Beach was a very classy piece of writing and direction by Malcolm Mowbray on which I was the un-credited Camera Operator. We shot most of it on Harlech Beach and Llandudno Pier. The very talented Graham Hazard was my Focus Puller who was constantly battling the sand being blown into the camera kit. Micky Patten was the Grip?I think Mick Murphy was on this too, maybe he’ll correct me on this. I remember Julie Walters was very nervous on one scene with her husband who had returned “Shell-Shocked” from the battle fields of WW 1. It was one of her first film roles, and it was a very difficult scene. After the take she tugged frantically at my sleeve and whispered “was I ok? was I ok?” I whispered back that she was perfect and she smiled back at me. I felt very humble. I also remember Stephen Bill, known from “Nuts in May” played a great part. A lot of night shoots.’

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Dreams of Leaving

This publicity photograph, of Kate Nelligan and Bill Nighy is from the Play for Today: Dreams of Leaving, transmitted on 17th January 1980.

Below is the entry from the Radio Times, from the BBC Genome project:

‘A film by DAVID HARE
William came to work in Fleet Street in 1971. London meant girls, as many girls as he could find. Then he met Caroline and so it began, that very strange summer … Caroline said the best of her life.
Music NICK BICAT
Film cameraman MICHAEL Williams. Film editor MIKE HALL
Designer MICHAEL EDWARDS. Script editor ROGER GREGORY. Producer DAVID ROSE. Written and directed by DAVID HARE
BBC Birmingham

Contributors:
William: Bill Nighy
Caroline: Kate Nelligan
Andrew: Andrew Seear
Xan: Mel Smith
Stievel: Johnny Shannon
Mrs Alexander: Helen Lindsay
Aaron: Julian Littman
Colin: Charles Dance
Robert: Hilton McRae
Gallery owner: Tony Mathews
Keith: Gary Holton
Keith’s lawyer: Raymond Brody
Drunken journalist: David Ryall
Miss Collins: Annie Hayes
Doctor: George Raistrick
Laura: Maria Harper’

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bb14c4a2d19c4195a6367a2812da9221

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Steve Saunderson: ‘I was Focus-Puller on this and did a bit of Operating too. DOP was Mike Williams ( RIP ) and John Kenway was the main Operator. Mainly all night shoots in Soho. I think it was Bill Chesneau on Sound from Ealing Studios. Remember playing “air-guitar” with Bill Nighy to “My Sharona”, he never could get the right chords.’

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Rachel and the Roarettes

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Above is a press release for Rachel and the Roarettes, which was transmitted on 13th June 1985, at 22.10 on BBC2. It was a musical play, set in a pub, with the time period switching between the 18th Century and the present day. It was Josie Lawrence’s first TV appearance.

Below is the entry from the Radio Times, care of the BBC Genome project:

“A musical play by JUDE ALDERSON continues this
Summer Season of new drama.
A rollicking fantasy with songs and robberies, motorbikes and stagecoaches. A story of wild women in the 18th century and where they are now … !
Musicians RICHARD WOLFSON
ANDREW SAUNDERS
DAVID ADAMS. JULIA PALMER
SIANED JONES
Music by JUDE ALDERSON
Choreography by STUART HOPPS Sound IAN RAE
Lighting BOB CHAPLIN
Script editor CAROLINE OULTON Designer SALLY ENGELBACH Producer ROGER GREGORY Director ROB WALKER BBC Pebble Mill”

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bc24e3d464f74a429200613ab3f300da

Thanks to Roger Gregory for sharing the press release.

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Cargo Kings script front pages

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Cargo Kings was one of a handful of live plays from Pebble Mill transmitted in March 1983. By this time it was very unusual to stage television drama live, because of its limitations, so these plays were quite a brave enterprise.

These script front pages show the cast and crew of the drama, as well as the rehearsal schedule and scene order.

Thanks to Philip Thickett, who was one of the cameramen, presumably on camera 5, from the notes on the script, for sharing it.

BORRIS, (scribbled on the script) for those who don’t know was the drama rehearsal room which was part of the garage and outside broadcast block at the back of BBC Pebble Mill.

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

Terry Powell: ‘Yet, another show I worked on. We really did do some fabulous programmes.’

Janice Rider: ‘Yes indeed we did Terry – that was quite a nerve-wracking experience as I remember but we were all relieved we managed to pull it off including quick changes . See they spelled my name wrong on the running order as usual!’

Terry Powell: ‘Yes, indeed. But we still had fun. We literally went from one show to another in those days. We must have been like race horses.’

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Girl and The Other Woman

The BBC Store has released two BBC Pebble Mill dramas, Girl (a Second City First) cost £1.99, and The Other Woman (Play for Today) cost £3.99, for payable download. Here is the link to the downloads: https://store.bbc.com/collections/prejudice-and-pride .

There is also an article about The Other Woman, which is accessible from the link above; this article includes quotes from Roger Gregory, who was production assistant on the production. Included in the article is a note about the viewing figure, which was a very impressive 21% of the whole UK population! The Other Woman starred Jane Lapotaire, Michael Gambon and Lynne Frederick. Girl was one of Alison Steadman’s early works.

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