Willoughby Gullachsen – Page 3 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Stella Sims Recording Session – Peter Poole

Stella was a senior broadcast journalist working for regional TV. She frequently directed Midlands Today. She is now pursuing a career as a singer. More information at www.seaton-sims.co.uk.

The recording was made in Studio 1 Pebble Mill. The piano pieces are,

“Aquarelle” by Edric Cundell.

“Rumores de la Caleta (Malaguena)” by Isaac Albeniz.

A Metamorphosis of a theme by Maurice Ravel.

Studio 1 was a large radio studio designed for classical music broadcasting. The acoustics were excellent but did suffer from low level traffic noise at rush hour. Many live Radio 3 lunch time concerts were broadcast there. It was originally equipped with a BBC “Type D” mixing desk. This became unreliable after many years use. And in 1992 it was replaced with a AMS Logic One digital mixing desk. This was semi-assignable and featured a “Audiofile” 8 track digital recording and editing system. This equipment was not very user friendly so I made my recording on a portable DAT recorder.

After the introduction of “Producer Choice” Studio 1 became too expensive for radio use. It was then used as a TV studio. The acoustics were then not ideal for speech based TV programmes. Midlands Today used Studio 1 when Studio B was being refurbished. And several viewers asked why it now had an echo!

Peter Poole

Studio 1 photo by Willoughby Gullachsen

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

Harvey Pope: ‘Am I correct in remembering a Children in Need night being broadcast from there? I was sent to do warm-up at Star City with Denise Lewis!’

Pete Simpkin:’It was a terrific experience to visit Studio 1 in the great days and watch mighty orchestras…up to 70 or 80 players at work. Also many audience shows were taped there…. and who will forget the amazing staff meetings for things like the visit of the DG!!’

Boogie Outlaws TX Card and Photos

‘Boogie Outlaws’ was transmitted in 1987. It was a drama produced at Pebble Mill by Carol Parks, directed by Keith Godman and written by Leslie Stewart. It featured a band of musicians on the run from the police.

Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider for making the photos available.

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Live from Pebble Mill – Cargo Kings

Copyright resides with the original holder, probably Willoughby Gullachsen; no reproduction without permission. Thanks to Janice Rider for making the photographs available.

‘Cargo Kings’ was a live play produced at Pebble Mill in 1983 in Studio A, when Robin Midgley was Head of Drama.

The BFI Database describes the storyline thus:

‘Roger Savage, an anthropologist, visits at remote island, where the natives, Mambu, Baku and Abode learn about an obscure cargo cult from him. Soon they are in London putting Savages ideas into practice.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/161953

The script was written by Stephen Davies, directed by Donald McWhinnie, Dawn Robertson was the production associate, with Will Hartley the production manager. Roger Gregory was the script editor. Ian Ashurst was the production designer, with Janice Rider the costume designer and Carol Ganniclifft the make up designer. Bob Hubbard was the camera supervisor, lighting was by Barry Hill, and Annette Martin was the vision mixer.

The play starred Jeffrey Kissoon as Baku, Norman Beaton as Mambu, Michael Cochrane as Roger Savage, Christopher Asante as Obode and Ray Smith as Chief Inspector Beltrap.

Boogie Outlaws – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photographs by Willoughby Gullachsen. No reproduction without permission.

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

‘Boogie Outlaws’ was written by Leslie Stewart, produced by Carol Parks, and directed by Keith Godman. It was made at BBC Pebble Mill and transmitted in 1987. The drama told the story of record manager, Manfred Holt, who puts together a band of musicians, who are on the run from the police.

It starred Ian Hogg, David Schofield, Isla Blair, John Judd, Francesca Brill and Chris Tummings.

Thanks to Janice Rider, who was the costume designer on ‘Boogie Outlaws’ for making the photos available.

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Angels

Copyright resides with the original holders, no reproduction without permission. Thanks to Janice Rider for making the photos available.

The polaroid photos were taken by costume designer Janice Rider, as continuity records of characters’ costumes.

The publicity photos were probably taken by Willoughby Gullachsen (Gus). The group shot seated on the grass dates from 1983, the standing shot from 1979.

‘Angels’ was a hospital soap, produced by the BBC in London, and hosted at Pebble Mill. Julia Smith was one of the early producers on the series. The series told stories of student nurses. Many actresses who went on to be very well known appeared in the soap: Fiona Fullerton, Pauline Quirke, Lesley Dunlop, Clare Clifford, Julie Dawn Cole, Lynda Bellingham.

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