Roy Thompson – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pebble Mill at One Reunion 2012

This article by Peter Seabrook about a Pebble Mill at One presenters’ reunion, remembering 40 years since the start of series, was published in the Sun on 27th October 2012. Peter Seabrook is the Sun’s resident gardening expert.

Thanks to Roy Thompson for sharing the article.

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

Keith Brook (aka Scouse):

‘Seeweed, who I still call a doddery old fart every time I see him, was a wonderful, kind and professional presenter.

He knew that rehearsals were often non-existent, so he’d tip me off about what needed close-ups seconds after I arrived with the camera for his live piece’

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 – Regal Cinema, Tenbury Wells

Photos by Roy Thompson, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are from the 1989 three part serial: Vote for Them. They were taken at the Regal Cinema in Tenbury Wells, which stood in for an Egyptian cinema. Roy Thompson took these location photos whilst on attachment at Pebble Mill, from Wood Norton. A 5am make up call at Pebble Mill was necessary!

The cameraman in the top photo is Dave Doogood, with Simon Tooley in the striped top.

Nanny – script front page

This is the rehearsal script front page for series 2, episode 4 of the 1981 drama series: Nanny. The series starred Wendy Craig as the nanny. The producer of the drama was Guy Slater and the director, David Tucker.

You’ll notice that the crew would be filming the winter sequences of this script on New Year’s Eve 1981 – that’s dedication!

Thanks to film editor, Oliver White, for keeping the script safe all these years.

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

Helen Wheatley: ‘I loved this programme with all my heart and told my parents I wanted to change my name to Artemis as a result of watching…’

Lynne Cullimore: ‘Loved it. I remember talking to Wendy Craig in the canteen and she was worried about which salads contained onion, as she was recording in the afternoon and did not want to breath onion over her fellow actors. I thought that was so nice of her. Loved Butterflies too but we did not do that one.’

Belinda Essex: ‘I remember temping while I was still at college for the Beeb early 80s and Wendy Craig was the first celeb I ever saw there, in the lift up to the canteen – I was very impressed.’

Roy Thompson: ‘Remember showing Wendy how to operate the tea machine, wonderful times.’