Blog – Page 335 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Editing ‘King and Company’ – photos from Jim Gregory

Photos from Jim Gregory, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are of Ian Collins and Jim Gregory editing the 1988 wildlife series ‘King and Company’. The series was presented by wildlife cameraman Simon King. In each episode a different celebrity, or member of the pulbic teamed up with Simon, on a filming assignment about a different British creature. The idea was to show how wild animals were filmed. The celebrities included Wendy Richards, Liza Goddard, Mark McManus, David Essex, Keith Barron, and Toyah Willcox. The animals featured included deer, dormice, salmon, frogs, and golden eagles.

The executive producer on the series was John King, Simon’s father, with Tony Rayner the director.

Chelsea Flower Show 1990 – photos by Gail Herbert

Photos by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

In 1990 BBC Pebble Mill produced a Chelsea Special programme which went out on BBC 2 on the Wednesday night of Chelsea week, as well as a ‘Gardeners’ World’ from Chelsea on the Friday, presented by Geoff Hamilton.

The first photo shows presenter Anne Swithinbank, with cameraman Mike Shelton and director Nick Bamford; the second, director Annette Martin, with researcher Helen Faulkner, and presenter Geoff Hamilton; the third photo is of P.A. Jacqui Pratt, camerman Keith Froggatt and sound Alex Christison; the fourth photo is of presenter and garden designer David Stevens; photo five is of David Stevens with Mike Shelton and director Nick Patten; photo six is of researcher Helen Faulkner and Mike Shelton; photo seven is of David Stevens with Nick Patten.

Nick Patten was also shooting a gardening series called ‘Gardens by Design’ in 1990, presented by garden designer, David Stevens, and recorded some of the show at the Chelsea Flower Show. These photos are a combination of the Chelsea coverage, and ‘Gardens by Design’.

Retirees Lunch – photo from Stephen Davies

BBC Pebble Mill would hold annual lunches for retired staff, like this one being hosted by David Waine, Head of Building (extreme left). The man on the right looking at David is Les Barlow, who used to work in Maintenance.

The photo dates from 1989, and was taken in Radio Studio 1.

Thanks to Stephen Davies for making the photo available.

Please add a comment if you can identify and of the retirees.

John King with Award – photos from Gail Herbert

Photos from Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

Pebble Mill, Entertainment Executive Producer, John King, recorded a dramatisation of author Laurie Lee’s book about his return to Andalusia with his bride after the Spanish Civil War in the mid 1930s. It was written and narrated by Laurie Lee. The two part drama was called ‘A Rose for Winter’, and went out in 1989.

John King accepted this award from the Mayor of Almunecar, in Spain in November 1989, on behalf of Laurie Lee. It was called ‘The Golden Avocado’!

The second photo shows John preparing for a radio interview in Spain around the same time, with fixer, Trini.

John King died in 1999.

1st BBC National Golf Competition – photo from Roger Mulliner

The photo is of the prize giving of the 1st BBC National Golf Competition, which was held at Kings Norton Golf Course in Birmingham. There seem to be a lot of trophies for the Pebble Mill contingent!

The photo features (left to right): Derek Price, John Kenyon (Farming editor), Jim Cleland, Colin Spears, Roger Sutton (vision mixer).

Please add a comment if you know the approximate year of the photo, more about either the competition or the various participants.