Chris Parr – Page 5 – What Was Pebble Mill?

‘Fighting Back’ – photo from John Greening

‘Fighting Back’, was a five part Pebble Mill drama, transmitted in 1986, starring Hazel O’Connor. It was produced by Chris Parr, directed by Paul Seed, written by Gareth Jones and filmed in Bristol. It was about a mother fighting to keep her children. It also started Derek Thompson (before Casualty).

The second photo features (left to right): ?, John Greening (AFM), and Alf Mayall (props).

Thanks to John Greening for making the photo available.

Bad Company – photo from John Greening

‘Bad Company’ was a two part drama based on the 1978 Carl Bridgewater murder case. The two parter was a dramatisation of the investigation into the murder of the 13 year old paper boy; the police case resulted in the conviction of four men in 1979. It was directed by David Drury, written by Don Shaw and produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr.

The photo includes (L to R) Ken Stott, Noel Paley, ? (focus puller), John Greening (1^st AD), Paul Gooch, Lesley Thomas (wardrobe), Chris Parr (producer) (behind post).

Other cast – George Irving, Jonnie Lee Miller, Susan Wooldridge, Brian McGrath, Mark Drewry.

Dawn Mears (Trotman) remembers working on the drama:

“I edited part 1 and John Rosser edited part 2. Adam Trotman was my assistant and Lynne Hawkins was John’s. It won an RTS. Bobbie Chapman was the PA nad David Drury the Director. It had a very strong cast, Ken Stott in particular was marvellous.”

Love Birds – photo by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photo by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

The photo is from a Screen Two drama called ‘Love Birds’, which was transmitted in 1988. It shows cameraman Keith Froggatt, and director Stephen Whittaker (who sadly is no longer with us). Chris Parr was the producer, and Sharon Pemberton the editor.

The BFI Database includes the following synopsis of the drama:

‘Barbara and Naseem are in the same hospital having babies. They become friends, but the celebrations of their husbands, Kenny and Quereshi, lead to a headlong chase, with crazy mix-ups, collisions and brushes with the law.’ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/425046

‘Love Birds’ starred Paul Bhattacharjee, Stephen Bent, Jane Gurnett, Linda Henry, Lisa Meredith, Van Martin, Shaheen Khan, Tracey Wilkinson, Margaret Heery, Sally Jackson, Jane Hazelgrove and Ken Hastwell.

Thanks to Sharon Pemberton for identifying the drama from the photo.

The Continental – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

The Continental

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

The Continental was written by John Godber, directed by John Godber and Martin Shardlow, and produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr.

The drama was a sequel to The Ritz (a television adaptation of John Godber’s play Bouncers), where the staff of The Ritz, a northern nightclub, set about opening a new disco in Spain. It was transmitted in 1987.

The Continental starred Richard James Lewis, Andrew Livingstone, Richard Ridings, Paul Rider, Andrew Dunn, Frank Bruno, Martin Ronan and Mark Addy.

The pool scene was shot in the Copthorne Hotel, Birmingham.

A list of most of the crew is contained on the Script front page.

The Continental 1

The Continental, Script front page

Pity in History – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

Pity in History was part of the 1985 ‘Summer Season’ of dramas, it went out on 4th July. It was produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr, the executive producer was Robin Midgley and Sarah Pia Anderson the director. The play was performed in Studio A.

The play by Howard Barker starred Norman Rodway, Anna Massey, Alan Rickman, Patrick Malahide and Ian McDiarmid.

Set in the Civil War, the story is about a sculptor working to finish a memorial to the Royalist years, as Cromwell’s men break down the surrounding cathedral walls.

The first photo has Alec Robson (TM1) on the left, setting lights and a back view of Keith Schofield with camera; the photo of the rehearsal featuring the crew includes: camera supervisor Dave Doogood, P.A. Bobbie Chapman, Dawn Robertson, cameraman Keith Schofield (crouched), Kevin Heffernan (design), Chris Parr (prod on left), George Allen (TM2) is in the centre with the dark sweater, on his right is cameraman Doug Smith.

John Greening comments: “Gareth Williams is b/g in white trousers. I was AFM and the rehearsals were at Five Ways in an empty office block. Actor in f/g is Roger Frost, husband of Pam Ferris. Howard Barker wrote the play as a vehicle for Ian McDiarmid – he was at the RSC at the time and I had to play his part during rehearsals when there was a matinee..”

Thanks to Dave Bushell, David Short and John Greening for adding to the information.

Pity in History rehearsalSave