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BBC Pebble Mill would hold annual lunches for retired staff, like this one being hosted by David Waine, Head of Building (extreme left). The man on the right looking at David is Les Barlow, who used to work in Maintenance.
The photo dates from 1989, and was taken in Radio Studio 1.
Thanks to Stephen Davies for making the photo available.
Please add a comment if you can identify and of the retirees.
Stephane Grappelli on 'Roy Castle Beats Time'
Stephane Grappelli on ‘Roy Castle Beats Time’ with The Suzuki Children.
The Story;
I met Stephane the day before this photo at ‘Pebble Mill at One’ – with Diz Disley and John Etheridge – he was riding high with a new Hot Club Trio and platinum selling albums with Yehudi Menuhin. I’d always been a fan of the original 1930’s HCQ line up with Django Reinhardt.
He wanted somewhere to warm up and I took him to Studio 1 which was empty as usual! – he was in seventh heaven.
He had just acquired his wonderful Galiano violin (he had never had money before!) he played non stop for the next two days and refused to stand under the notoriously hot Pebble Mill lighting in case the Galiano dried out – this caused big problems as he stood in the gloom.
The next day for Roy Castle the producer had prepared a surprise – ‘The Suzuki Children’ came on as a treat and formed a circle around Stephane playing their tiny violins. Stephane was very moved and wanted a souvenir photo – I rushed off and found a freelance who took the snap.
Stephane gave me his address and I posted it to him. Astonishingly he wrote back!
This was the beginning of a friendship of 20 years. I eventually wrote his biography, produced a one hour feature for BBC Radio 2 and directed a three hour DECCA DVD ‘A Life In The Jazz Century’ which was nominated for a BAFTA in 2002.
When we cleared Stephane’s Paris flat in 1997 the photo was still amongst his souvenirs.
Pebble Mill was full of surprises!
Paul Balmer
THE MAD AXEMAN
When the Pebble Mill Radio Studios were being built someone forgot to install a visual alarm so that people broadcasting in soundproof areas would be made aware of any emergency and respond accordingly. One afternoon I was presenting the scheduled show alone in studio 1 when I looked up to see a Fireman complete with helmet and an axe waving at me through the control room window. Apparently there was a fire alarm and I was the only person who was not aware of it. Actually it turned out to be a false alarm and I refused to leave my post and kept on the air but soon flashing alarms were installed throughout the area for future safety!
On another occasion we were all evacuated from the building and as we trooped out we became aware that we were being filmed…..it was for a programme about how quickly
a building could be evacuated…..we were not best pleased.
Coming down from the 7th floor restaurant one afternoon I walked into a lift and was told to ‘carry on, behave quite normally’ A silent sequence was being filmed for some drama for TV and I had to stand next to a famous actor until we reached the required floor. I never saw my appearance!