Photos – Page 242 – What Was Pebble Mill?

The Power and the Glory – thank you letter

This thank you letter was sent to Dave Mason for his dubbing of the motor racing series: ‘The Power and the Glory’.

‘The Power and the Glory’ was a twelve part series about the history of motor racing from the 1890s, looking at the designers, the drivers and the action on the race track. It was a co-production between BBC Pebble Mill and John Gau Productions. It was transmitted in 1991. Ivan Rendall was the Executive Producer. Philip Tibenham was the narrator.

Studio A Sound Desk – Peter Poole

Studio A Sound Desk

I took these photos about 1980. They show the Neve sound desk fitted with 48 channels. This enabled complex sound mixing for live and recorded programmes. Many drama and light entertainment programmes were produced in Studio A. They include ‘Howard’s Way’, ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ and many other dramas. Light entertainment programmes include ‘Telly Addicts’, ‘Call My Bluff’ and the final series of ‘Pebble Mill at One’.

In 1997 a major refurbishment of Studio A started at a cost of £2.2 million. The studio reopened in 1998 with vision and sound facilities which compered with the very best in the country. The new sound desk was a 60 channel Calrec Q series. However a few years later the studio was closed. This followed a decision by BBC senior management.

I visited Pebble Mill shortly after it’s closure. The studio doors were padlocked but I was able to have a look in the gallery. The new installation was superb. This together with Pebble Mill’s talented crews should have kept Studio A very busy. It’s such a shame that it closed after so little use.

Peter Poole

‘Fighting Back’ – photo from John Greening

‘Fighting Back’, was a five part Pebble Mill drama, transmitted in 1986, starring Hazel O’Connor. It was produced by Chris Parr, directed by Paul Seed, written by Gareth Jones and filmed in Bristol. It was about a mother fighting to keep her children. It also started Derek Thompson (before Casualty).

The second photo features (left to right): ?, John Greening (AFM), and Alf Mayall (props).

Thanks to John Greening for making the photo available.

‘Newcomers’ photo with some names from Kevin Lakin

The photo is of the 1960’s drama ‘Newcomers’, recorded at Gosta Green.

Myles Lang and Michael Edwards were from Design, Keith Bullock was from Lighting. Two back from Reg, white coast balding head, Fred Parsons, Lighting Electrician.

Thanks to Kevin Lakin, and Adrian Parsons for identifying some of the members of staff in the photo.
Please add a comment if you can identify others in it.

Studio B stripped down – photos by Philip Morgan

Photos by Philip Morgan, no reproduction without permission.

These photos were taken by Philip Morgan in November 2004, on the viewing days before the auction of Pebble Mill equipment, after the building was decommissioned, but before demolition.

The photos are of Studio B, which was the Midlands Today Studio, on the first floor, overlooking the courtyard.