December 2014 – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

On the House – cat flap

Photo by Chris Wedgebury, no reproduction without permission.

This photo is from the last series of the BBC 2 DIY show, On The House TX 4th November 1988. Steph Silk was the series producer, and the presenters were Rick Ball, Pattie Coldwell and Harry Greene. I was the researcher on an item about how to fit a catflap, which we recorded in the studio house, in the back garden of Pebble Mill. I brought in my dog, Oscar (whose head is sticking through the cat flap) to test out the cat flap. The cat in the photo is Steph Silk’s cat, Bagpuss. I do remember that The Clothes Show Exec, Roger Casstles brought in his own cat, also called Oscar, who was Siamese, and spent most of his time sat on top of the fence surrounding the house.

Vanessa Jackson

Here is the Radio Times entry for the episode, from the BBC Genome project http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/861c145b4f1a4114b036fc43c05aaaed:

‘Third of six programmes What’s new pussycat?
Pattie Coldwell looks at what’s available in cat flaps. Rick Ball finds out if self-build is worth the effort as the Cures move into the home they’ve built themselves. Troubleshoot goes to Nottingham where Harry Greene helps Stasia French draughtstrip her front door.
What’s in Store keeps you up-to-date with the latest in DIY, decor and design. Producer ANDREW MEIKLE
Series producer STEPHANIE SILK BBC Pebble Mill
Send factsheet requests to: [address removed]. Enclose £1.25 for double issue (3 and 4) or £3.50 for whole series (1-6)
ChequeslPOs payable to Housefax’

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Jane Ward: ‘I remember that day so well!
My grey tabby, Chutzpah, took part too. I remember having “cat catchers” stationed all over the set as various moggies made their bid for freedom! Chutzpah’s expenses cheque was never cashed…(about 99p?!). Think it hung in my loo for a while.
I think Angela Horsman (now Profit) from Contracts also brought her long haired fluffy cat in (sorry, not sure of breed!). I seem to remember she (the cat!) looked around most disdainfully at the whole proceedings…
Hilarious day! ‘

Roly Polys on Pebble Mill at One

The photo is from a Pebble Mill at One rehearsal, where the Roly Polys dance troupe, of larger ladies, have joined floor manager, Eurwyn Jones, at the piano. This was for a Christmas edition of the lunchtime entertainment magazine show.

Thanks to Eurwyn Jones for sharing the photo.

Vote for Them in Egypt

These publicity photos were almost certainly taken by Willoughby Gullachsen on location in Egpyt. They are from the 1989 three part drama series, Vote for Them, written by David Edgar and Neil Grant. The series was produced by Carol Parks.

Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider, for sharing the photos.

Below is the synopsis from the Radio Times entry of the series from the BBC Genome project http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3bc1b6954a074ae7af03e2e03cf40739:
‘First of three episodes.
Egypt. 1943: Rommel has been kicked out of Africa and the fighting has moved on to Italy. The Allied troops still based in Cairo have time to think about what sort of world they want when the war is over.
Script editor ESTELLE DANIEL Designer NIGEL JONES Executive producer MICHAEL WEARING
Producer CAROL PARKS
Director JAMES ORMEROD BBC Pebble Mill’

The Bike’s the Star

The Bike’s the Star was a four part series which went out in January and February 2001, repeated in the Autumn. The series was produced by the motoring unit. It was presented by Steve Berry, with Dave Smith, and Dennis Jarvis as the producer/directors. The series looked at different classic motorbikes, including the Harley-Davidson, the Italian Vespa Scooter, the BMW Boxer, and the Triumph Bonneville.

Thanks to Ian Collins for making the title grab available.

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Peter Poole: ‘Anyone remember Top Gear on radio 5? I think Steve Berry presented. The other presenter was Zog Zeigler.’

Topol’s Israel

This article is from the Pebble Mill News from 1984. It tells about a Pebble Mill documentary/entertainment series, called, Topol’s Israel. The programme followed the Jewish entertainer on a trip back to his home country. The production team were Peter Hercombe, director, Chris Wright and assistant producer, Pam Creed. The camera crew consisted of cameraman, John Williams, assisted by Keith Froggatt (both in the bottom photo), with soundman, Alex Christisson, and electrician Arhtur Heywood.

Thanks to Robin Sunderland for sharing the newspaper, and keeping it safe all these years.

Below is the synopsis for the first episode of the series transmitted at 8.30pm on BBC2 28 March, 1985, from the BBC Genome listings database: http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f7824512648045f59f05dbfe5c6662ed

‘The first of six musical journeys in which film and stage star Chaim Topol revisits his native Israel.
Part documentary and part entertainment, the series joins Topol on the closing night of his triumphant
West End revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and follows him to Tel Aviv, the city which has always been his home.
Week by week Topol reflects on his experiences as a child of Israel – his memories of family life in an immigrant quarter, of the Exodus operation, his pioneering days on a Kibbutz, his days as an entertainer in an army troupe.
His travels range from the Galilee to the Red Sea, from Jerusalem to Jaffa, and from the Lebanon to Eilat, and on his way he meets an array of friends from every walk of Israeli life.
Director CHRIS WRIGHT
Producer PETER HERCOMBE BBC Pebble Mill
BBC record REH/ZCR 529 from retailers
• FEATURE’

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Dawn Trotman: ‘I remember it well and meeting the man himself albeit briefly.. Chris Rowlands cut it.’