March 2018 – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Production Designer Michael Edwards on Great Expectations

Photographs by Albert Sheard, no reproduction without permission.

The top photo shows production designer, Michael Edwards, and Roy Barrett, working on the kitchen set of the 1981 adaptation of Dickens’ Great Expectations, in Studio A. The second photo also shows Michael Edwards at work.

Thanks to Albert Sheard for sharing the photographs.

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

Bob Hutton: ‘That’s Scenic Artist, Brian Bishop in the white overall in both pics,(sadly no longer with us).’

Carole Haysom: ‘We had some fun and games on this show! Great crew with Head of make up Gwen Arthy. Trainee at time…great experience.’

Pebble Mill Care Home

Quite a few former Pebble Mill employees have received this brochure about the new Pebble Mill Care Home, which now occupies part of the Pebble Mill site. Looks like a place where we might all end up!

Thanks to Nicola Silk for sharing the photo.

Ray Sperry

I have received news that Ray Sperry, one of Pebble Mill’s vision crew, has died. Ray started working for the BBC in Birmingham back in the Gosta Green / Broad Street days and during the Pebble Mill period; working both on O.B.s and in the studios. He rose to become Vision Supervisor on CM1 and CM2, and like everyone else in OBs, lost his job when Outside Broadcasts in the Midlands closed down, in 1992.

A much loved member of the crew, Ray was always convivial, professional and knowledgeable.

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

Robin Sunderland: ‘Ray was a lovely man’

Andy Frizzell: ‘I Remember Ray, as Robin says, lovely man, always a pleasant and knowledgable man. People like him are a breed that’s getting thinner on the ground in the TV industry and we’ll be all the poorer for it. ‘

Malcolm Hickman: ‘As Andy says, Ray was a great bloke. Very helpful when you were trying to put a rig in on OBs. Another good bloke gone.’

John Taynton and Muhammad Ali

Radio WM presenter, John Taynton, with Muhammad Ali. The date will be around 1983-4, which was when John was still presenting with BRMB, before his move to Radio WM. BRMB Programme Controller, Bob Hopton is stood next to John.

Thanks to John’s son, Phil Taynton, for sharing the photo.

The following comment were added to the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

John Evans: ‘WM’s interview with Ali was done by the late Ed Doolan with me (as sports editor) alongside Ed in the studio, so I imagine the photo is at BRMB.’

Lincoln ‘Sam’ Shaw

The following is from Annie Gumbley-Williams:

I have received news from Simon Shaw of the recent passing of his father, Lincoln ‘Sam’ Shaw.
I remember Sam when I worked on Radio Birmingham & Midlands Today in the 1970s to 80s. The photograph is of Sam in 1972 when he was Regional News Editor. I worked also with his son Simon, at Pebble Mill, when he was still in education, he used to come into Radio Birmingham to answer the phones on our Saturday Sports programme. Simon is now Executive Producer on the Antiques Roadshow. There’s a lovely photo on of his mother & father’s wedding on the opening titles.
Simon has sent the following:-

Lincoln “Sam” Shaw is a legendary name in the annals of Pebble Mill and Broad Street BBC history. Sadly we have received news of his recent death at the age of 93. Lincoln passed away peacefully in Torbay Hospital on February 19th. Many will remember Lincoln, either from his work as news editor on Midlands Today in the 60’s and 70’s, or from his days as Managing Editor English Regional Television which saw him broaden his responsibility for 8 regions across the UK. Those with longer memories may also know he was part of the pioneering small team that made the first local radio experiment in the 1960s. His son Simon tells us that Lincoln and wife Patricia enjoyed a life changing experience when he moved to south Devon in the 1980s by going back to the shop floor working as a reporter for the newly launched Radio Devon. Work that saw him filing reports until recently which recognised as the BBCs longest serving reporter. Luckily he managed to combine his work with golfing on some of the countries finest courses where he was regularly seen playing in to his 90s. His fulfilling and rich life will be celebrated in a memorial in early April at Dartington Hall. For more details please contact lincolnsmemorial@yahoo.com

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

Roger Sutton: ‘Sam and I were members of the same golf club for a number of years but our paths never crossed at Pebble Mill. I have fond memories of our time on the course. A lovely man.’

David Shute: ‘A real gent and very agreeable colleague. Hope he’s having fun in the newsroom in the sky.’