Derek Johnson

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Veteran Midlands Today film cameraman, Derek Johnson, sadly died a few days ago. He was in his mid-eighties. Derek was also a stills photographer and recorded mute films for Midlands Today.

Unfortunately I do not have a photograph of Derek, but please let me know if you have one, and could share it.

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

Jason Dean: ‘Very sorry to hear about this. Always grateful to Derek and his son Ian (his sound man) for being so helpful and patient with me when I was on attachment to Midlands Today in the mid 80’s as a rooky TV reporter. Particularly remember the time they put up with me doing endless attempts to get a piece to camera right in the centre of Leamington Spa!’

Wendy Lewis Edwards: ‘Derek was a one man film operator, going out relentlessly over very long days to pick up mute pictures of stories that otherwise would not have been covered. He made an enormous contribution to Midlands Today and was a delightful, reliable, modest man for whom I had great admiration’

Robin Latchem: ‘I think I did my first Midlands Today item with Derek and Ian. So glad they tolerated being a de facto mobile training unit. Such a helpful, gentle man.’

Kevin Latimer: ‘Derek was a companion on many cold winters news stories around Brum – remember him as a very contented cameraman’

James Roberson: ‘Very sad to hear about dear DJ – he was one of the stalwarts of the Midlands today team, along with his son Ian – both gentlemen and so helpful and kind to work with – happy days in the late 1980s at Pebble Mill ..’

 

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Alan Towers resigns from Midlands Today 1997

Alan Towers BBC Midlands Today resignation broadcast 1997 from Mark Davies on Vimeo.

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Alan Towers presenting Midlands Today in 1997, and resigning live at the end of the show. Apparently he asked to say something at the end of his final show, but no one realised that he was going to explain why he was leaving. His timing was impeccable, as usual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Becky Towers: ‘My LEGEND of a father! He’s been gone 9 years this month. Funny that you posted this. He always finds a way to let us know he’s still around!’

Robin Latchem: ‘I wish someone had the recording of when the VT went down on a Saturday sports show I was producing and Alan had to busk several minutes with no spare copy. He breezed through the empty time while I in the gallery could only thank someone’s God that he was presenting.’

Gordon Astley: ‘I remember watching this one Saturday afternoon. We all thought,”Hero”. The suits thought “Unprofessional “. Later on I interviewed Alan on my show after his return from from a motorbike trip abroad. After the show you couldn’t move for ‘suits’ welcoming him back into the building.’

Martin Fisher: ‘He was helpful to us in local radio for both news and sport and I am personally grateful for the assistance in my early years in broadcasting from Pebble Mill.’

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Robin Latchem circa 1989

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The photo shows Robin Latchem in the newsroom at Pebble Mill, circa 1989. Behind him is Dave Hart. Robin worked at Pebble Mill between about 1988-96.

Coincidentally, this is the tie that he got married in!

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Blue Plaque for Pebble Mill – press release

Pebble Mill building circa 1970, copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Pebble Mill series editor, Steve Weddle has sent out the press release below, about Pebble Mill’s Blue Plaque status:

BLUE PLAQUE FOR PM

Our iconic BBC Pebble Mill has been awarded a Blue Plaque in honour of its unique contribution to broadcasting.

Since a recent coffee morning when Jim Dumighan commented that there wasn’t any indication that Pebble Mill ever existed, ‘not even a Blue Plaque’, Jenny Brewer and Steve Weddle have been campaigning to get our former home recognised.

The Heritage Foundation, who award Blue Plaques to a select few in the field of entertainment have granted this rare honour.

The Blue Plaque will be displayed on the front of a new private hospital about to start construction on the old site, thanks to its owners Circle Health, who have agreed to help us out.

There will be an unveiling ceremony soon after the hospital has been completed in around two years’ time – just enough time to plan a party!!!

The good news also featured on a recent edition of Midlands Today, and the BBC Radio WM and Hereford and Worcestershire breakfast shows.

The Implaquables

 

Spotlight on Graphics 1992

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This article is from Midlands News, the internal BBC newsletter from June 1992. It gives an insight into the work of the Graphics department at Pebble Mill, and mentions a number of the staff and programmes being worked on.

Thanks to Stuart Gandy for sharing the article.

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