Pebble Mill at One – photo from Maggy Whitehouse

Photo from Maggy Whitehouse, no reproduction without permission.

The photo features key members of the Pebble Mill at One presentational team: (left to right) Magnus Magnusson, Paul Coia, Marian Foster, Bob Langley, Josephine Buchan.  It probably dates from the mid 1980s.  It was taken at Peta Newbold’s house in Selly Park, where everyone ended up after the very last Pebble Mill at One.

Small Town Gardens

Copyright remains with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

‘Small Town Gardens’ was a garden design series which ran for three series, from 2001-3.  The first series was produced by London and presented by Rachel De Thame, the programme was then handed over to BBC Birmingham.  The second and third series were produced at Pebble Mill.

I really enjoyed being the series producer, they were great series to work on.  The producer/directors included Mark Scott, Kate Dillon & Paul Vanezis. Sarah Wilkin, and Emily Rusted were researchers, Sarah Costigan and Joanne Gray were PAs.

The second series was presented by garden designer Joe Swift, with the final series presented by James Alexander Sinclair.  The premise of the show was to re-design small urban gardens, employing professional garden designers, taking them and the garden owners on inspirational visits, and shopping trips.

The first photo is of Joe Swift with garden designer Annie Guilfoyle, who designed a garden in Brighton for the series.

The second photo shows garden designer Andy Sturgeon with one of the contributors and Joe Swift.  The garden Andy designed was in East Sheen, in West London.  Both photos date from 2002.

The series went out on BBC 2 at 8pm on Friday nights in autumn 2002.

Vanessa Jackson

Asian Magazine – blog by Tariq Aziz

 

Asian Programme Unit shoot. Photo probably by Willoughby Gullachsen


My dad worked at Pebble Mill in the mid-80’s, on the 5th floor I think, where the Asian programmes were produced (Asian Magazine as far as I remember).  As kids, me and my sister would visit during half term, sat in galleries, wandered the corridors a bit.  I’m now at the BBC myself and would love to hear from anyone who might have worked with my dad or knew of him in those days (he’s since passed away).  His name was Yousuf Aziz, he would have been a producer in the Asian Unit.

Tariq Aziz

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

Julian Hitchcock: I remember Yousaf as a most courteous, intelligent gentleman, rather quiet and carefully spoken, with a particular warmth and an amused smile.

Jane Green:Julian I share that memory of him too. How we packed things into that Studio B. Remember the musicians? I spent time sat on the floor with Benazir Bhutto and her mum – with Benazir talking of her plans to be PM of Pakistan.

Gordon Astley:..i worked on the first Asian prog at Gosta Green !

Jayne Savage: Yes I remember working with Yousuf and I’m pretty certain I met Tariq!

Golden Oldie Picture Show – ‘Question’ – photo Gail Herbert

Photo by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

The photo was taken on a shoot for the ‘Golden Oldie Picture Show’ by PA, Gail Herbert.  It shows cameraman Barry Foster on the left, and Dirk Maggs, who worked in Presentation in London, on the right.

The video being shot was for the hit single, ‘Question’.  The shoot took place in Andy Tylee’s office.

The ‘Golden Oldie Picture Show’ was presented by Radio 1 DJ, Dave Lee Travis. It was an entertainment magazine show, made up of specially shot music videos, for hits which pre-dated the era of music videos.  The executive producer was John King.

Dancing Diggers at Pebble Mill

Stills from Ian Collins, no reproduction without permission.

These stills are of the JCB ‘Dancing Diggers’, performing in the back car park at Pebble Mill.  They were appearing an episode of Pebble Mill at One.

Video editor, Brian Watkiss,  thinks they date from the mid 1970s. He remembers them being in the 10th Anniversary compilation – one of his very first jobs in VT!