December 2017 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Slade on Pebble Mill

https://www.facebook.com/Sladeforlife/videos/1992287810811937/?fref=mentions

This clip of Slade’s Christmas classic is from the lunchtime entertainment show, Pebble Mill, presented by Alan Titchmarsh. It dates from 1991, which was Slade’s final year.

Thanks to Roy Thompson for finding the link.

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

Kate Boston-Williams: ‘Remember it well. We were hauled out of the office to make some noise.’

Rachel Ridge: ‘I met Noddy once at the RTSs… think he was guest of honour as the Greatest Living Midlander and my gosh he lived up to the title. One of the nicest people I’ve ever met and a total gent. Highlight of my telly career.’

Andy Frizzell: ‘Met Noddy Holder couple of months ago for a show on Sky soon. Hasn’t changed much, what a lovely bloke. No airs and graces and very easy to work with.’

Noddy Holder on Sky shoot, photo by Andy Frizzell, no reproduction without permission

Bob Hubbard on camera

Bob Hubbard on an EMI 2001 camera. Photo by Robin Sunderland, no reproduction without permission. The photo probably dates from the early 1980s.

Big Strong Boys

Big Strong Boys, circa 2003, lunchtime on a shoot in Hatton, Warwickshire. In the photo are Dan Davis, Warren Green, and Alan Herd.

Photograph by Suzie Curtlin, no reproduction without permission.

New Year’s Special – Bhasker Solanki

Photos by Bhasker Solanki, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are from a New Year’s Special, recorded at Pebble Mill in 1981 or 1982, in Studio A. For some reason the whole crew decided to dress up on this occasion. The show was recorded around Christmas,to go out on New Year’s Eve, around midnight.

Included are, Phil Thickett in the red striped bathing suit, Tony Wigley in the leopard print, Jim Gray as a clown, Keith Brook (Scouse) in the purple leopard print dress, and Nick Patten floor managing in the short blue jacket!

Oliver White and his encounter with Grace Wyndham Goldie

Specially shot video of film editor, Oliver White, talking about his encounter with the legendary Grace Wyndham Goldie, whilst a trainee at Ealing in the late 1960s. Grace Wyndham Goldie was the Head of BBC Television Talks, and later Head of News and Current Affairs, she was a formidable producer and executive. Oliver is talking about the obituary of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who died in 1969. Oliver White worked as a film editor at BBC Pebble Mill for many years, he edited dramas like Nuts in May, Gangsters, Kiss of Death and Red Shift, amongst many others.

This video was recorded at the London Film School, and is part of Royal Holloway’s ADAPT project, which engineers re-encounters between television practitioners and the historic equipment they once used habitually. I think that the editing machine next to Oliver is a moviescope – can anyone confirm that?

Oliver White with a Moviescope

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

Ieuan Franklin: ‘A fearsome lady by all accounts – Bel Rowley from BBC drama The Hour is based on Grace Wyndham Goldie but the character is a bit too meek for GWG I think! Great to see Oliver, he’s looking well.’