Ruth Barretto – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pebble Mill Nursery

This cutting is from the opening of the Pebble Mill crèche in 1989 – one of the first in the BBC. It was actually Pebble Mill’s second creche, the first being in the 1970s, and only lasting a year or two. Ruth Barretto (Gill) and her daughter, Elena Rebekah were at the 1989 opening, along with Head of Broadcasting, David Waine and creche Manager, Pauline Mandry.

Pebble Mill at One, Studio C

1980’s photo of the Pebble Mill at One studio, in the converted foyer of Pebble Mill. Note the Links cameras

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

Wendy Lewis Edwards: Four years on Pebble Mill at One then back years later for Good Morning with Anne and Nick. Remember Beryl Reid crawling on all fours across the floor between cameras to pull faces at Val Doonican singing away with his guitar. The viewing audience were completely unaware…

Julian Hitchcock: I hardly know where to begin. I first worked in the foyer in late 1978, worked on countless Saturday Night at the Mill programmes and hundreds of PM@1s.

Oddly, my last visit was as a guest on the Anne and Nick daytime show that took the same slot, in 1995, when I was escorted there and back in a limousine. On that occasion, I deliberately wore a checked jacket to pull the TM’s leg. (Sorry).

Eurwyn Jones: I remember working on Saturday Night at the Mill and Ginger Rogers arriving in a big car and walking in through the double doors.

The production team were Roy Ronnie, Roy Norton, Patricia Mifflin and Peter Wisdom.

David Crozier: I have many happy memories of being the designer on both Pebble Mill at One and Saturday Night at the Mill. I always loved the live TV atmosphere on both these shows. It was the Pebble Mill live TV experience which inspired my career change, a few years later, to becoming a TV director. I always enjoyed directing multi-camera live TV shows and the impression left by my time at Pebble Mill has never left me!

Carolyn Davies: Forgot how narrow it was! Amazingly well utilised space, remember it well for Daytime and Good Morning with Anne and Nick, bands, demos, cooking, how did we fit it all in!?!

Tim Dann: Great ‘daze!’…& who will forget Roy Norton in the Gallery; at the end of the show jumping up, knocking his chair over & screaming at ‘Presentation’…”Take me prez, take me, take me!!”….then as Susie says…Off to the ‘Strathallan’ for hospitality. Wonderful times.

Ruth Barretto: I used to work for john Grantham in Engineering (one of the loveliest boss) and I remember he had these huge rolled up artist impressions of the foyer area when it was in the planning stage. It was initially the reception area . He asked me if I wanted them . Being young I thought ‘why would I want them?’ Wish I had said yes now!!!

David Shute: I recall when the Wild Eyed Sidey was hot to go with this idea that the head of Engineering, a pleasant person, said it wouldn’t work ‘cos you can’t combine daylight & studio lighting. Phil gave him 30 mins back in his own office to come up with reasons WHY or come ready to discuss his early retirement. What a surprise, it all happened at speed !

Regional Clubs Day 1990

These photographs were published in the BBC newspaper, Ariel, in July 1990. They were taken at the annual Regional Clubs Day held at Pebble Mill.

The second photo shows the Midlands winning badminton team, including Arif ?, Jane Dance, Pippa Jones (Graphics), ?.

The photos were originally shared on the Pebble Mill Engineers’ Facebook page.

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

Craig Wood: ‘Front row, second in on the left is my good pal, Mike Brown. Who I worked with in graphics. Very sadly passed away a few years ago.’

Ruth Barretto: ‘Front row: Colin ? Mike brown, Karen Hewson, Richard Pearson, middle row: Jane Dance Bartley, Maria Hurley, Lynne ? Julie Adams, David Wayne, Mary Sanchez’

Mega Mela

This screen grab of Mahima Chaudhry is from Mega Mela, a music and entertainment programme from the Asian Programme Unit. It probably dates from circa 2000.

Thanks to VT Editor, Ian Collins for making the still available.

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

Matthew Sly: ‘When I was at the beeb, this was being prepped. If I remember, it was a pretty big event. There were several departments working on it.’

Ruth Barretto has shared the following photographs of her looking after Mahima Chaudhry.

Ruth Barretto and Mahima Choudhry

Last Pebble Mill at One – Five Star

This is a performance of Five Star on the last ever episode of Pebble Mill at One in 1986. The group dance in locations all round the Pebble Mill building, including the canteen, PBX, the roof, courtyard, and even the Pebble Mill at One production office.

Thanks to David Croxson for pointing out the video on YouTube.

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

Ruth Barretto: ‘I have to say it bought a tear to my eye. So loved working in this building. Many happy memories. I remember watching them rehearsing .’

Stuart Gandy: ‘Wow, Can’t beleive this is 30 years ago!. I remember this so well, especially the bit they did in comms centre.’

Caroline Feldon Parsons: ‘Looking at that you realise once again what an iconic building it was. Loved my time there.’

Dharmesh Rajput: ‘Love this! Great to see the building again – I don’t think I remember the quadrangle without the conservatory in it!’

Pete Simpkin: ‘Fantastic!…brings back so many memories after all this time….yes and the lump to the throat!…..and what brilliant editing. Just this one clip shows clearly why ‘The One Show’ is such a feeble imitation too!!!’

Claire Chambers: ‘The very talented Roger Casstles directed this – only he could make Pebble Mill look like a Miami backdrop ( well at the beginning -not the bit in the canteen!)I think I was the P.A.!!!! How many locations and shot variations has he used -excellent.’