Steve Weddle – Page 4 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pebble Mill at One at Legoland

Photo copyright Roger Guest, no reproduction without permission.

These photos were taken at Legoland in Copenhagen. It was part of a Pebble Mill at One programme recorded in April – May 1983.

The team all travelled in a Patterson’s coach and included Steve Weddell, John Smith, Jane McLean, Marian Foster, Jack Rook, Mary Clyne, Mike Bloore, Dave Baumber, and myself.

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

Keith Brook (Scouse): ‘Mike Bloore is trying to figure out which end is which of the videotape!! The recorder was called a VR3000 if I remember rightly.
Ian Dewar and myself started that operation.’

Ray Lee: ‘Yes it was an Ampex VR3000 and had large rechargable batteries which might last for one tape if you were lucky. It produced a very basic monochrome playback, which really did little other than indicate something was on the tape. It was very noisy, as the head assembly was mounted on ball bearings, unlike the airbearings that were used in all the full size machines. Little chance of assessing sound quality, but maybe that was recorded separately on a timecode linked tape machine. I don’t know details of how it was used in the field, but did have to attempt to repair it a few times. ! Very quicly replaced by the VPR10 1″ machine for these type of productions.’

Jane Clement: ‘I seem to recall they went to Freetown Christiania as part of the trip – the big hippie commune in Copenhagen – is that right Steve N Weddle and Jane Mclean?’

Jane Mclean: ‘Oh just look at us Mike Bloore! Yes Jane, we did indeed and I was petrified. They had lots of huge dodgy dogs. I went for a wee under a bush and two dogs charged me midst flow. The owner stopped them just before they reached me by which time I was wrecked. Ian Dewar had to give me medicine from his hip flask.’

Steve Weddle: ‘Heavens yes, Christiania, the hippy commune right in the heart of Copenhagen which proclaimed itself a free state. As I was the nearest thing we had to a hippy – long hair and a duffle coat – I went in to hold discussions with their leaders to see if they would allow us to film in their break away state. They eventually agreed, giving me a promise that our safety was assured. As if! No sooner had we started filming than we were greeted by a break away faction brandishing sticks and bricks, demanding our immediate departure from the site, or else. A tense few minutes ensued until my contact there won the day and we were allowed to carry on filming. And good on John Smith for holding his nerve. Plus I do remember that incident of the dog in the daytime, Jane. I seem to recall the Danes having a weird thing for Alsatians. But that’s for another time!’

Marian Foster and Steve Weddle

Photo by Peter Poole, no reproduction without permission.

Pebble Mill at One presenter, Marian Foster, with producer, Steve Weddle (who was later editor of Pebble Mill), on the Severn Valley Railway.

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

Jane Clement: ‘I’m pretty certain we did both a PM At One and a 6.55 on this railway. Is this the one where we stopped the train in the middle of the countryside (ie not at a station? for some reason? Steve N Weddle, Diane Reid – you’ll remember. Di, weren’t you the director?’

Glynn Christian Recipe from Pebble Mill at One

These recipes from TV chef, Glynn Christian, were featured on Pebble Mill at One in January 1982. The combination of celeriac and mint flan, carrot and ginger flan, shoulder of lamb with red pepper, accompanied by a puree of parsnips and basil sound like a good wholesome winter meal. Notice how all the measurements are imperial, rather than metric. The recipe sheets could be ordered by viewers, and sent out to them.

Thanks to floor manager, Eurwyn Jones, for sharing these recipes.

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

Jane Mclean: ‘Those wanting recipes had to send in an SAE. We typed them out as above, photocopied them and rammed the envelopes. Not even PM headed paper! A tad removed from today and logging on to slash/recipe. Oh the glamour.’

Jane Clement: ‘The joys of life pre-computers, when it was all typewriters and carbon paper. So much fun, especially on a daily, live to air show that changed all the time. Bits of screwed-up paper everywhere and much swearing.’

Steve Weddle: ‘Absolutely. Incidentally I first stumbled upon Glynn Christian when I was researching an item on the Mutiny On The Bounty – he was actually a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian and had written a book on it. So I also tracked down a direct descendant of William Bligh too, Captain of the Bounty, and then let them slug it out in the foyer. On the way back to hospitality Glynn mentioned to me that he was something of a cook, and because he’d performed well I managed to persuade the powers that be to allow him back for a cookery demo. That was followed by a series of six – I’d never researched or produced cookery items before – very much the preserve of Steph Silk and Mary Clyne – and it was a bit of nightmare for me. Not my thing at all. So I was almost relieved when the newly launched Breakfast Time moved in and whisked Glynn away for him to become their regular on screen cook. How he must have loved those early mornings!’

Tribute to Dave Baumber by Paul Vanezis

Dave Baumber, photo by Peter Poole, no reproduction without permission

Some sad news. Dave Baumber, ace sound recordist and dubbing mixer has died after a short illness. My Pebble Mill friends will be shocked, as I was, but for those of you who think they don’t know him, well, I’ll remind you of his work. My Doctor Who friends will have heard his work as a grams operator on the 1966 adventure serial The Moonbase.

Dave was a BAFTA award winning sound supervisor for Boys from the Blackstuff in 1983, but fans of cult TV will have heard his work as a sound recordist on Tom’s Midnight Garden and Torchwood and as a dubbing mixer on Artemis 81, Gangsters, Spyship, various ‘Play for Today’ editions including Nuts in May, Red Shift, Penda’s Fen and Licking Hitler.

Dave looked after the sound on many of the major series to come out of Pebble Mill including Anna of the Five Towns, All Creatures Great and Small, All Quiet on the Preston Front, Martin Chuzzlewit, Dangerfield and Dalziel & Pascoe.

By 2004 Dave had itchy feet and was keen to get back to doing more location sound. He was my sound recordist on Casualty Saved My Life. He had stints on the real thing, Casualty in Bristol and then the aforementioned Torchwood.

Apart from being brilliant at his job, he was a really nice guy.

Paul Vanezis

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

Ray Holman: ‘So sad. I worked with Dave on several series, some at Pebble Mill such as All Creatures and the last one was in Cardiff on Torchwood. What a shock and what a lovely man, I’m so sorry.’

Steve Weddle: ‘A true professional who made everything he did seem deceptively easy. Happy times.’

Jeff Matthews: ‘I am devastated and totally saddened by this terrible news. I worked with Dave on Torchwood and had many a ‘soundman’s’ type chat with him. He retired and went to drink wine in France. I hope he had lots of fun. A very sad loss.’

Dancing at the BBC Club

Photos by Karen Bond, no reproduction without permission.

These photos of dancing in the BBC Pebble Mill Club date from the early 1990s. They mostly feature Pebble Mill series editor, Steve Weddle, taking to the dance floor, amongst others!

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

Marie Phillips: ‘Funny you posted this today. We were lunching with friends today at The Boot in Lapworth and in walked Steph Silk who I have bumped into twice in a week after 25 years. She was meeting former Pebble Millers, including Jenny Brewer and ….. Steve Weddle also 25 years on. Great to see everyone and share a few laughs. Steve was excited about his recently published book – available on Amazon! It must be part of the aging process but nobody looks any different as the years roll by.’

Judith Markall: ‘Remember dances in Studio 9 at Carpenter Road!’

Bridget Vaughan: ‘Tall girl could be Bev Dartnall, bless her.’

Janet Collins: ‘Sure it’s Bev and is the other person Julie Knee?’

Steve Weddle: ‘What is he like? Don’t answer that! And yes, that could be Bev – she was always full of fun and frolics, god bless her.’