Sue Ashcroft – What Was Pebble Mill?

Ainsley’s Barbecue Bible

Ainsley’s Barbecue Bible was a six part series made for BBC 2 in summer 1997, with a second series in 1998. Ben Warwick was the director, with producers, Roulla Xenides and Jane Lomas. The assistant producers were Sue Ashcroft and Lisa Kendrick, with Liz Darby being the PA on the first series and Jane Mclean the PA on the second.

The series involved Ainsley travelling round the world in search of the best barbecue ideas. His journey included: Britain, South Africa, Jamaica, Thailand, Australia and Greece.

Here is the link to the Radio Times entry for the first episode, from the BBC Genome project: http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bf1a6891e372488fa092dc8f8f0ae415.

Thanks to Ian Collins for making the grab available.

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

Roulla Xenides: ‘I made barbecued jerk chicken on Saturday using the jerk marinade recipe from the book which is a pretty good one. Many memories of the series including baboons attacking our BBQ at the Cape of Good Hope – we had to escape to the car and watch an entire family of them eating all of the ingredients for the South African Sosaties, not to mention the male baboon displaying his ‘virility’ in a rather belligerent manner. Annie Jenkins designed the graphics and this shot was filmed in her back garden. Funny, we were just talking about it this morning!’

Pebble Mill at One Office

Photos by Ken Williams, no reproduction without permission.

These photos date from the 1970s. They show the Pebble Mill at One production office.

Thanks to Keith Brook (aka Scouse) for sharing the photos.

Photo 1 has Heather Turner, hands on hips, who was in charge of fashion items, Sue Ashcroft in the middle and Roger Laughton on the right. Roger was deputy editor who went on to be Managing Director of Meridian.

Photo 2 has Yvonne Ackrill on the right and I don’t know who on the left.

Photo 3 has the same lady again and Terry Dobson, the infamous editor, trying to be dominating.Photo 4 is Sue Ashcroft again in a typical, shy and quiet pose!

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

Keith Brook: ‘The camera (in the 2nd photo) is an EMI 201 that was used as a makeshift prompter. Slung underneath the studio cameras were small TV monitors showing the script, which meant the presenters were always looking down slightly.’

Last Pebble Mill at One

These photos were taken on the last day that ‘Pebble Mill at One’ was transmitted in May 1986.

The top photo features, left to right: Richard Bradley, Viv Ellis, Maggy Whitehouse, Peta Newbold.

The lower photo features, left to right: Sue Ashcroft, Viv Ellis, ?, Mary Clyne, Maggy Whitehouse, Richard Bradley, Anne Varley.

Thanks to Maggy Whitehouse for sharing the photo.

Pebble Mill at One Production Team

Photo from Maggy Whitehouse, no reproduction without permission.

The photo is of the ‘Pebble Mill at One’ production team.

Included are, left to right, back row: Magnus Magnusson, Norma Scott, David Lancaster, Josephine Buchan, Anne Varley, Bob Langley, Pat Langley, Steph Silk, Steve Weddle. Crouching: David Weir, Jane Clement, Viv Ellis, Marian Foster, Di Reid. Front row: Jo Dewar, Beverleigh Wildman (now Thompson), Sue Ashcroft, Peta Newbold, Paul Coia.

BBC Directors’ Course 1987

The photo is of a BBC Directors’ Course held at Pebble Mill in 1987. Included in the photo are Maggy Whitehouse (front left), Yasmin Archer (seated next to Maggy), Ron Bains, from BBC Glasgow’s comedy unit (seated next to Yasmin), Bish Mehay (2nd from left top row), Roz Gower (centre, check dress), Sue Ashcroft (blue blouse next to Roz), peeping out next to Sue is Andy Mosedale, producer Patricia Mifflin, Pete Biddell (far right).

Thanks to Maggy Whitehouse for making the photo available.