August 2017 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Yesterday’s Enemy 1958

Gordon Jackson and Alex Scott in ‘Yesterday’s Enemy’. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.

Thanks to Joyce Hawkins for sharing this photo. This was the first production that Joyce worked on in the Costume department.

Yesterday’s Enemy starred Gordon Jackson and Alex Scott. It was written by Peter R Newman, and produced by Chloe Gibson. The designer was John Cooper. The drama was transmitted on 14th October, 1958, and was produced at Gosta Green, presumably in the studio. It was set during the Burma campaign of WWII.

Interestingly the television play spurred a Hammer Films production of Yesterday’s Enemy, in 1959, with Gordon Jackson playing the same role.

Below is the cast list from the Radio Times:

Japanese Officer: Otokichi Ikeda
Burmese informer: Andy Ho
Sergeant Ian McKenzie: Gordon Jackson
Captain Alan Langdon: Alex Scott
Second Lieutenant Paul Hastings: Barry Foster
Private Wilson: David Webb
First Private: Tom Watson
The Doctor: Alan Rowe
The Padre: Manning Wilson
Max Turner, war correspondent: John Sharplin
Second Private: Graham Lines
Brigadier Wilmont: Hugh Morton
Corporal Patrick: Terence Brook
Japanese Private: Burt Kwouk
Major Yamazaki: Lee Montague
British and Japanese soldiers: [uncredited]

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BBC Landrover and Eagle Tower

The photograph shows two men working on a Marconi Mk3 camera belonging to MCR 15 or 16. Is anyone able to identify them? In the background are two Midlands Eagle Tower radio links vehicles. The Landrover was registered in 1967, so the photo might have been taken at Carpenter Road. If you can add any more information, please add a comment.

Thanks to Robin Stonestreet to letting me know about this photograph.

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

Malcolm Hickman: ‘It’s certainly a Midland tower in front, but I don’t recognise the location or the two guys. There were 3 land rovers in Brum in the early 70s. Two on links, one long and one short wheelbase with no side windows and a sound OB with windows. All had BBC Midland logos on. Plus there is a white building in the background, Carpenter Road was red brick. Kendal Avenue was white painted.’

David Kirkwood: ‘Fond memories of the Marconi Mk3. Not sure it’s Birmingham though equally not sure where else they still used that camera in 1967?‘

Glynne Dummett: ‘Operated the Eagle Tower many times, was a bitch to drive with the cage forever banging on the cab roof.’

Keith Brook (aka Scouse): ‘ Remember the Marconi from my Ally Pally days. Such fun when I sent the turret the ‘long way’ round!‘

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Rachel and the Roarettes

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Above is a press release for Rachel and the Roarettes, which was transmitted on 13th June 1985, at 22.10 on BBC2. It was a musical play, set in a pub, with the time period switching between the 18th Century and the present day. It was Josie Lawrence’s first TV appearance.

Below is the entry from the Radio Times, care of the BBC Genome project:

“A musical play by JUDE ALDERSON continues this
Summer Season of new drama.
A rollicking fantasy with songs and robberies, motorbikes and stagecoaches. A story of wild women in the 18th century and where they are now … !
Musicians RICHARD WOLFSON
ANDREW SAUNDERS
DAVID ADAMS. JULIA PALMER
SIANED JONES
Music by JUDE ALDERSON
Choreography by STUART HOPPS Sound IAN RAE
Lighting BOB CHAPLIN
Script editor CAROLINE OULTON Designer SALLY ENGELBACH Producer ROGER GREGORY Director ROB WALKER BBC Pebble Mill”

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bc24e3d464f74a429200613ab3f300da

Thanks to Roger Gregory for sharing the press release.

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Behind the scenes at Pebble Mill at One

This article is from the Pebble Mill at One book, 1986. Studio director, Mark Kershaw, describes the challenges of broadcasting from the foyer studio, as well as explaining how the show is created and what the following roles contribute: vision mixer, director, producer, researchers, designer, lighting supervisor, senior camerman, sound supervisor, production assistant, floor managers.

Mark Kershaw is seen directing in the top photo. It is possibly Roger Hynes up the ladder is the lower photo.

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

Andy Frizzell: ‘The line drawing looks like it’s from when they raised the ceiling (a godsend for lighting) and removed the inside canopy over the front doors (not so great, we used that to put all the ballasts for the HMI lights.’

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CMCR9 on display at Shrewsbury Steam Fair 27-28 Aug 2017

CMCR9, in the 1970s, with rigger driver, Ron Lane. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission

Jerry Clegg has sent through the information below about the outside broadcast truck, CMCR9 being on display this bank holiday weekend:

“The heritage scanner North 3/CMCR9 will be at large again next weekend and on show at the Shrewsbury Steam Fair, Onslow Park, Shrewsbury. North 3 will be resplendent with its freshly renewed logos following a gradual wrinkling problem with the previous gold letters.

You can see details of the show using the following link :-

http://www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk/see-do/events/shrewsbury-steam-rally-2017

Do be aware that the show takes place on Sunday 27th and Bank Holiday Monday 28th August, so don’t turn up on the Saturday or you might get roped in to rigging the gazebo or the EMI 2001!

As always, we will be very pleased to meet up with any of you who can make it to Onslow Park. This is one of the best of its kind and a really good day out for everyone.”

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