November 2016 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Michael Abbensetts 1938-2016

Michael Abbensetts talking to Michael Wearing, at the Midlands Arts Centre 2010

Norman Beaton in Empire Road. Photo by Willoughby Gulachsen, no reproduction without permission.

Norman Beaton in Empire Road. Photo by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

The Guyanan-born writer, Michael Abbensetts, sadly died on 24th November 2016. Michael settled in Britain in the 1960s and gave a voice to people from a Carribean heritage, through his writing for the theatre and television. He worked on several Pebble Mill dramas in the 1970s and early ’80s, often with producer Peter Ansorge. His first Pebble Mill production was Black Christmas, in 1977; followed by Empire Road (series 1 and 2), the first black British soap opera, 1988-9; and Easy Money, part of Playhouse, 1982. He also wrote an episode of Doctors in 2001, which was his last television script.

Michael attended the ‘What was Pebble Mill’ screening event at the Midlands Arts Centre in 2010, and was interested in commemorating the dramas made at Pebble Mill.

(Thanks to Lez Cooke for updating some of the information in this post.)

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

Terry Barker: ‘He did an episode of Doctors which I script edited in late 90s’

Janice Rider: ‘The Mac event was the last time I met Michael before he became unwell . Not many people may be aware that there is a beautiful photograph of him in the National Portrait Gallery collection by Horace Ove, filmmaker, who directed some episodes of Empire Road. A lasting tribute to a great, gentle playwright. http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw79463/Michael-Abbensetts?LinkID=mp68713&search=sas&sText=Michael%20Abbensetts&OConly=true&role=sit&rNo=0 ‘

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Gavin Davies CV

Gavin Davies on Dead Head. Photo by Willoughby Gulachsen, no reproduction without permission

Gavin Davies on Dead Head. Photo by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission

Here is production designer, Gavin Davies’s CV, and impressive credits list. I think the CV dates from the mid 1990s when the services of crafts people were hired to Independent companies, following John Birt’s re-organisation of the BBC.

Thanks to Ann Chancellor-Davies for sharing Gavin’s CV. Gavin sadly died some years ago.

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Amin Hassan’s funeral

Peter James Briggs

Tony Jarrett

Karen Bevins and Janice Rider

Joe Franklin

Gill Hughes

Gill Hughes and Jane Barton

Kevin Lakin and Gill Hughes. Photos by Kevin Lakin, no reproduction without permission

Les Podraza

Pete Montgomery

It was Amin Hassan’s funeral today. Amin worked as a dresser for many years at BBC Pebble Mill, and then in the Post Room at the Mailbox. Below is a post from Jo Mainwaring about the service:

“Well it may have been Black Friday [25th Nov 2016] in more ways than one, but the sun was shining and there was a very good turnout. Nice to see so many familiar old faces from all areas where Amin had worked and made friends. The service was short and sweet, with two hymns, ‘Morning Has Broken’ and ‘Jerusalem’. Amin’s niece was too emotional to give her eulogy but Rev Brian Atkins stepped in to read. Quite a few people went on to the Pavilion afterwards, but some had to return to work, eg. those taking time out from the Drama village. There are some lovely pictures of Am in the order of service which I’d like to post, if I wasn’t technologically challenged! Perhaps one of his other friends can do that. Rest in peace dear Amin, we shall miss you.”

Josephine Mainwaring

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All Memories Great & Small – part 1

Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

Excerpt from All Memories Great & Small’ (memories of the popular drama series, All Creatures Great & Small)

Memories from David Crozier (Designer): ‘In the first series we had large animals in the Pebble Mill studios, with sets for farm barns and cow sheds, which were later filmed on location. So for a horse stable there are all sorts of things you have to take into consideration, not least of which is how you are going to dispose of the animal’s waste, so we were effectively building these stables and cow sheds in the studio for real! So those challenges were unique in terms of working with animals – which of course they say you should never do!’

60 cast and crew have shared their memories for this new book, which is available to preorder now from Miwk – http://bit.ly/2d7p5ts

Thanks to Oliver Crocker for sharing this excerpt.

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Fighting Back – Radio Times

Fighting Back, was a 5 part drama on BBC1, transmitted in 1986, starring Hazel O’Connor, as Viv. It featured on the front of the Radio Times, as well as a feature inside.

Here is the entry from the Radio Times, from the BBC Genome project:

“Fighting Back by GARETH JONES
The first of a five-part serial based on an idea by VICTORIA HINE
Viv Sharpe hurtles down the motorway, kids in tow, towards the Bristol she used to call home. Not only has
Bristol changed, but Viv finds no one wants to know her and there’s nowhere to go. Is this the start of Viv the vagrant? Or can she keep fighting back?
Incidental music PAUL JONES, Script editor BETH PORTER, Lighting DICK BENTLEY, Designer ROB HINDS, Producer CHRIS PARR, Director PAUL SEED. BBC Pebble Mill”

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d3665caef0db4a94a441b93945661e10

Thanks to Beth Porter, who was the script editor, for sharing the stills.

Beth Porter’s (long and amusing) autobiography Walking on my Hands, is available for a couple of pounds on Kindle, on the link below. Chapter 12 includes Beth’s adventures with the BBC.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-My-Hands-responsibility-Streisand-ebook/dp/B01DUWNSRQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1460027101&sr=8-3&keywords=kindle+Beth+Porter

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

Jane Green: ‘This was the first thing I ever worked on – as a work experience floor assistant with Gareth Williams I think. I had to look after Hazel. Can’t print what she did here !!! But goodness me. What memories. Feb 1986.’

John Greening: ‘I was assistant floor manager…’

Susan Astle: ‘I was the make up designer on it, goodness so long ago! And before Derek Thompson became so famous!’

Les Podraza: ‘I think the filming was in Bristol for a month. I was on the crew. Fab times!!!’

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