Photos by Paul Balmer, no reproduction without permission.
‘Trinity Tales’ was produced in Pebble Mill by David Rose in 1975. The six part drama was written by Alan Plater. It was a contemporary take on Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’. The series followed a group of rugby fans, who swap stories on their way to the Cup Final at Wembley.
Please comment if you can identify which of the ‘Trinity Tales’ these photos are from.
Bob Jacobs was the 1st Assistant Director on Trinity Tales. The Pebble Mill series, which went out in 1975, was written by Alan Plater as a contemporary take on Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’. It follows the stories of a group of fans on their way to the Rugby Cup Final at Wembley. As in the ‘Canterbury Tales’ they swap stories along the way.
David Rose was the Producer and Michael Simpson and Tristan de Vere Cole the Directors. It starred: Bill Maynard (Stan the fryer); Francis Matthews (Eric the prologue); Colin Farrell (Nick the driver); Gaye Brown (the wife of Batley Alice); John Stratton (the man of Law Smith); Susan Littler (Judy the Judy); Paul Copley (Dave the joiner); Peter Benson (Reuben)
Trinity Tales cast
Alan Plater on writing, commissioning & genre from pebblemill on Vimeo.
This clip is of the Hull based writer Alan Plater talking in 2008 about writing drama and the difficulties of getting commissioned today. It was recorded by David Rose for his ‘My Journey Together’ lecture, and David has kindly given his permission for it to be used on this website. Alan sadly died on 25 June 2010.
Alan Plater
Untitled from pebblemill on Vimeo.
This clip of writer Alan Plater talking about ‘Land of Green Ginger’ is taken from David Rose’s ‘My Journey Together’ lecture. The copyright remains David Rose’s.
The Play for Today ‘Land of Green Ginger’ was transmitted in 1973. It follows a young woman, Sally, played by Gwen Taylor, as she returns to her home town of Hull for the weekend. She and Mike, her trawlerman boyfriend, played by John Flanagan, have to make decisions about their future. However he is reluctant to give up the dangerous life of a fisherman, and she wants to pursue her career in London. The drama also featured Jean Heywood as Mrs Brown, Michael Elwyn as Reynolds and Ivy Cawood as Mrs Thurlow.
The drama was produced by David Rose and directed by Brian Parker. Mike Williams was the DOP, and the film was edited by Henry Fowler.
Alan Plater on English Regions Drama Pebble Mill from pebblemill on Vimeo.
This clip is of the Hull based writer Alan Plater talking in 2008 about the English Regions Drama Department at BBC Pebble Mill. It was recorded by David Rose for his ‘My Journey Together’ lecture, and David has kindly given his permission for it to be used on this website. Alan sadly died on 25 June 2010.
Alan Plater