Photo by Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.
This photo was taken on the occasion of ‘Nobby Berghaus’s’ leaving the BBC.
He’s being seen off the premises by Sound friends Andy Morton, Paul Scurrell, Paul Clarke and John Cole, in the BBC Pebble Mill bar!
Copyright resides with the original holder. No reproduction without permission.
Thanks to Kevin Lakin for making this camera script available.
‘Bird of Prey 2’ was the sequel series to the 1982 conspiracy thriller of the same name. The series was written by Ron Hutchinson and produced at Pebble Mill, being transmitted in September 1984. It was a four part series about computer fraud, recorded in Studio A.
The series featured: Richard Griffiths as Henry Jay, Carole Nimmins as Anne Jay, Lee Montague as Roche, Jan Holden as Mrs Lucas and as Timothy Bateson as Mr Jorry, and Bob Peck as Greggory.
As you can see on the camera script, the series was directed by Don Leaver and produced by Bernard Krichefski.
Dawn Mears worked as an assistant editor on the series and remembers it well:
“It was my first break editing drama as Nigel Pardoe Matthews let me cut an episode all by myself! Andy Turley did the graphics which involved a computer game. Unheard of in those times . Ron Hutchinson was the writer I think. It was beautifully written, very clever. It was a studio drame with film inserts.”
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
This photo shows the cast of a pantomime performed by members of the Pebble Mill staff. The pantomime was the Pied Piper which was a BBC Drama Club production and the show was put on at Cadburys.
The photo includes Pat Wareham, Ann Gumbley, Susie ?, Wendy Nelson, Annie ?, Polly Brain, Elaine Hercombe, Jane Hyde, and Jayne Savage.
Thanks to Annie for making the photo available.
Jayne Savage (on the right with the long hair), remembers the club well:
“Drama Club productions were a regular thing – I would say annually during the early/mid 70s. The first one I can remember was a review which included tiller girls and a very energetic can can which was performed at the Crescent Theatre. Rather worryingly I don’t remember Pied Piper! The production that stands out for me was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat which ran for several nights at Cadbury’s and then had 2 performances at Malvern. The final one I think was How to Succeed in Business… at the Old Rep. Rita Cashmore who choreographed was brilliant at organising a very ‘mixed’ collection of dancers. Anybody who wanted to take part could, and it was a lot of fun.”
Gail Herbert was also a keen Drama Club member:
“I used to be involved with some of these epics. I remember being the back end of the cow in Godspell – Peter Hercombe was at the front! We trod the boards at Malvern I seem to remember. Real laugh.”
Photographs copyright of Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.
These photos feature various costume and design staff at Pebble Mill, amongst others – mostly taken at parties. They include: Terry Powell, Paul Gooch, Ray Holman, Peter Lloyd, John Ellis, Jacqui Pratt, Maggie Thomas, Diane Lester, Al Barnett, Tracey, Sally Holden, Cathy Ayerst, Lesley Thomas, Carl Dolan, Conrad Fletcher.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
John Taynton used to present the Late Show on Radio WM. Sadly, he died in Feb 2011, after a battle with cancer. The show he presented was current affairs and consumer based, and was one of the first shows to be syndicated across the Midlands network.
Thanks to Stuart Gandy for making this Radio WM Photocard of presenter John Taynton available.
Sparks, Andy Frizzell adds the following memory of John:
“One thing stands out for me. During the electricians strike in 1987 John came out to us on the picket line and handed us a bag for our hardship fund. It was full of cash from a collection organised by John and WM. Totally unexpected but very much appreciated. Came over as a kind and generous man and fully sympathised with us.”
Series producer and director, Kath Moore adds the following comment:
“John was my first boss. His 11am WM show circa 1987 was my chance to make tea, answer his phone-in phones and do the intro/ outro durations on the vinyls that he chose with consummate care and knowledge. He carried them to studio in a wire …supermarket basket I recall …. A real People’s Champ, he was tirelessly supportive and encouraging to those starting off – and there were many of us…. He set the bar high too on standards – and taught us to do the same, for which I’m grateful, daily. A lovely, feisty man.”
Producer, Rebecca Skidmore remembers listening to John’s show as a teenager:
“His show was my escape when I was being bullied at school in my teens. I used to lie under my duvet with my walkman on and listen to this very kind man helping people, and it just made everything seem better….”
Darren New travelled with John:
“I had the most amazing trip with John to Rwanda as part of Midlands Aid, Richard Uridge’s idea to raise money for the innocent people caught up in the genocide. His back pack never made it to Africa so we had to lend him some of our clothes. He was a great guy and a brilliant broadcaster.”