Photos – Page 284 – What Was Pebble Mill?

‘This is History Gran’

This is History Gran TX Card

This is History Gran was produced by Chris Parr at Pebble Mill, and went out in 1986 on BBC 1. It was written by Robert Holman, directed by Sarah Pia Anderson; John Kenway was the director of photography.

The drama tells the story of Lord Edward Langbaurgh who makes a shocking discovery while taking a stroll in the grounds of his country home, which affects the Chapman family of a nearby town. Christopher Chapman decides to investigate.http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/407698

The film stars Elizabeth Bradley, David Calder, Matyelok Gibbs, Peter Howell, Paul Jesson, Gina McKee, Mark Rylance and Martin Walker.

Thanks to Maggie Humphries from Film Unit for looking after this photograph and the TX Card.

This is History Gran

The Chequered Flag brochure – also known as ‘The Power and the Glory’

‘The Chequered Flag’ (transmitted in the UK under the title ‘The Power and the Glory’) was an eight part documentary series about the history of motor sport, produced at Pebble Mill, with John Gau productions. This brochure was probably produced to promote its being sold internationally (since the title is different from the UK broadcast title). The series went out in 1991. Thanks to Maggie Humphries from the Film Unit for making the brochure available, and to Alan Duxbury for supplying more information.

Please add a comment if you worked on the series or can add more information about it.

The Chequered Flag brochure cover

Hartbeat – Lynda Kettle’s photos

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.

Hartbeat was a children’s studio based art show which was hosted by Pebble Mill, and recorded in Studio A. The producer/director was Chris Tandy. There were several series of Hartbeat between 1984-93. I’m not sure which series were recorded at Pebble Mill, but probably in the late 1980s. Tony Hart was the main presenter, but was joined by others like Margot Wilson, and Alison Millar.

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.

Hartbeat set in Studio A

Slimming on the Radio – Pete Simpkin

Pete weighs in

Slimming on Radio Birmingham

‘Pete weighs in’ and ‘Slimmers’ illustrate another group dedicated to improving their health in a series organised by the local Health Service…..I lost half a stone in the month long series but several others did much better!

Pete Simpkin

Slimmers celebrate

Phil Sidey’s Leaving Party – photo Paul Scholes

Phil Sidey's leaving party

Photo from Paul Scholes, of Phil Sidey’s leaving party, in the Pebble Mill Foyer, Studio C, the home of ‘Pebble Mill at One’.

Phil Sidey was the head of centre from 1973 to 1983, when David Waine succeeded him.

Phil Sidey, born in 1926, died on the 15th October 1995 whilst walking in the Peak District, below is a quote from his obituary in the Independent, written by Leonard Miall:

‘As the Head of the BBC Network Production Centre at Birmingham, Phil Sidey was the man who converted Pebble Mill from a structural white elephant into a thriving source of daytime television. He was the first manager of Radio Leeds and played a leading role in establishing lively local broadcasting on a financial shoestring. He was a programme innovator with a spate of lively ideas and an abrasive tongue which tended to upset some of his colleagues. He was also an accomplished public speaker and a successful chairman of the Royal Television Society.’

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaries-phil-sidey-1579330.html

Please add a comment if you knew Phil Sidey and can add more information, or if you can identify people in the photo.