Blog – Page 326 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Radio Birmingham, Radio Car

The photo shows the Radio Birmingham, Radio Car. It probably dates from the mid 1970’s. The line up is made up of the station’s news team. According to producer/presenter Pete Simpkin, it includes (L to R): Chris Phipps,Stuart Woodcock, Nick Owen, Angela Jameson, Annie Gumbley, Jim Rosenthal, then the late Andy Roberts news producer, a newsroom Secretary who’s name escapes me,Roger Moody and Martin Henfield. Angela Jameson was the Newsroom Secretary and married to the Warks cricketer John Jameson. Martin Henfield went on to become News Editor Radio Birmingham, Roger Moody went to satellite TV.

Thanks to Annie Gumbley for making the photograph available.

Mixing in the Scanner – photo by Laura McNeill

Photo by Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

The photo shows Andy Redfern mixing audio, in what is a Type B Audio Truck, used for radio outside broadcasts.

Ken Dudeney – Radio WM photocard

Ken Dudeney used to present a country music Saturday lunchtime show on Radio WM called ‘Town and Country’.

Thanks to Stuart Gandy for making the photocard available.

Michael Fisher remembers Ken well:

“I remember Ken from the Radio Birmingham days and was delighted to meet him at the reunion last August. He was also the one who “closed” Radio Brum and re-opened it with its new brand of WM.”

Radio Birmingham and Radio WM producer and presenter Pete Simpkin adds the following information:

“Ken still lives within a stone’s throw of Pebble Mill and has a comprehensive collection of memorabilia about Radio Birmingham/ WM. We shared many hair raising situations ‘on air’ and also he was the person who actually suggested the name WM when change was mooted but was shouted down!”

Andy Caddick worked with Ken:

“I worked with Ken in the early 80’s when he presented the afternoon show on WM. Lovely man and voice.”

Sparks, Andy Frizzell remembers a challenging booking:

“I lit a New Year’s Eve show that Ken hosted/produced at Longbridge Social Club. Frank Ifield headlined and allegedly had a contract that insisted on a follow spot on him. Lighting for radio? Hmmmm.”

Tim Manning:

“As an aside, most of the photos for these promotional flyers for the re-launched Radio WM were taken by Stuart Roper at the back of Pebble Mill by the stream. He had a favourite spot for taking them.”

Bad Company – photo from John Greening

‘Bad Company’ was a two part drama based on the 1978 Carl Bridgewater murder case. The two parter was a dramatisation of the investigation into the murder of the 13 year old paper boy; the police case resulted in the conviction of four men in 1979. It was directed by David Drury, written by Don Shaw and produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr.

The photo includes (L to R) Ken Stott, Noel Paley, ? (focus puller), John Greening (1^st AD), Paul Gooch, Lesley Thomas (wardrobe), Chris Parr (producer) (behind post).

Other cast – George Irving, Jonnie Lee Miller, Susan Wooldridge, Brian McGrath, Mark Drewry.

Dawn Mears (Trotman) remembers working on the drama:

“I edited part 1 and John Rosser edited part 2. Adam Trotman was my assistant and Lynne Hawkins was John’s. It won an RTS. Bobbie Chapman was the PA nad David Drury the Director. It had a very strong cast, Ken Stott in particular was marvellous.”

‘Nobby Berghaus’s’ leaving do – photo by Laura McNeill

Photo by Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

This photo was taken on the occasion of ‘Nobby Berghaus’s’ leaving the BBC.

He’s being seen off the premises by Sound friends Andy Morton, Paul Scurrell, Paul Clarke and John Cole, in the BBC Pebble Mill bar!