Photos – Page 271 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Golden Oldie Picture Show – He Ain’t Heavy

Photos by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

The Golden Oldie Picture Show ran from 1985-88 and was presented by Radio 1 DJ, Dave Lee Travis. The show consisted of specially shot music videos, created for popular hits recorded before music videos were routinely made. Individual directors suggested the tracks they’d like to create videos for, so there were a myriad of styles of both videos and music, linked by DLT.

These photos are from a shoot which cameraman John Williams directed for the hit ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother’. It was shot at a centre for young people with disabilities which John had a connection with. The resulting film was poignant and uplifting. There are several versions of the ballad, including recordings by The Hollies and Neil Diamond. I’m not sure which version was used for the film.

The photos show John Williams (white shirt, pale blue trousers), grips Jimmy Monk (bent over by Variety Club van) and Keith Schofield (crouched by van).

Thanks to Gail Herbert for sharing the photos.

John Williams, Jimmy Monk, Keith Schofield

Inside Out – photos by Lynda Kettle

Photos by Lynda Kettle, no reproduction without permission. Lynda Kettle was a Production Designer at BBC Pebble Mill, working on factual, entertainment and drama shows in studio and on location. The photos were taken as records of the Sets.

Inside Out was a 6 x 50 mins drama series recorded at BBC Pebble Mill, in Studio A, in 1985. It was the story of two female ex-offenders who are trying to set up an employment agency together. It was directed by Tony Smith and Pedr James, produced by Sally Head and written by Simon Moore. Lynda Kettle was the production designer.

The series starred Lou Wakefield and Gwyneth Strong, alongside Michael Thomas, Philip Sayer and Caroline Guthrie.

Production Designer, Lynda Kettle also worked as a theatre designer and an artist, and now runs courses from her art studio http://www.lynda-kettle.com. She is a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham Water Colour Society. Midland Pastel Society and Birmingham Art Circle . She exhibits her paintings several times a year at selected galleries.

Studio set of ‘Inside Out’

Pebble Mill Building – photos from Gail Herbert

These photos of BBC Pebble Mill date from the early 1970s.

Thanks to Gail Herbert for making them available.

John Major – photo from Gail Herbert

Gail Herbert meeting John Major

Prime Minister John Major visited Pebble Mill in the 1990s and appeared on Good Morning with Anne and Nick for a sofa chat. He is shown here meeting Gail Herbert, Chair of the BBC Club and P.A., outside the front of Pebble Mill Reception. Between Gail and John Major is David Wayne, the Head of Building.

You’ll notice that John Major has signed the photo for Gail, who was a supporter of his.

Tuesday’s Child – photos by Lynda Kettle

Tuesday’s Child was a play directed and produced by Robin Midgley at Pebble Mill in 1985. It was written by Terry Johnson and Kate Lock, and told the story of a young girl who confesses to her priest that she saw a miracle when in the Holy Land. Kate Lock also acted the part of the girl, with Donal McCann playing Father Doyle and also featuring J.G. Devlin. Dave Bushell was the lighting director. The play was recorded in Studio A.

Tuesday’s Child