Local – Page 26 – What Was Pebble Mill?

WM Frisbee – Pete Simpkin

Photo by Pete Simpkin, no reproduction without permission.

I found this frisbee in my shed recently, probably issued from Pebble Mill in the 80s, but I just can’t remember why.

Presenter Gordon Astley added the following comment on Facebook:’..radio stations should hang their heads in shame at the money wasted on giveaways..car stickers etc. never added just one listener.’

Pete replied: ‘You are right Gordon…….Stations added listeners by being out there among them, where are the great OBs that used to be mounted at Shopping Centres etc? Everything’s hidden away in bunker type studios now!’

Radio WM diaries – Pete Simpkin

Another of those unusual artefacts from days at the Mill. These diaries were sold to the public and used as gifts over several years. We actually had a studio/shop at 80 New Street for a while where people could ‘walk in and talk ‘ on air, and buy goodies as well!

Pete Simpkin

Pebble Mill at One – Goodyear Airship

These stills are from the visit of the Goodyear airship to ‘Pebble Mill at One’.

Please add a comment if you can add any information, or know the approximate year.

Conal O’Donnell left the message on the Facebook page: ‘I think it was in the mid -eighties.I did a piece on it for WM.We sauntered over Coventry at about 2,500 ft -it was a wonderful way to fly in ideal conditions . I wouldn’t fancy it in anything other than ordinary weather tho’.One of the most bizarre aspects of it was the ground handling crew were all Vietnamese boat people.’

Radio Birmingham & WM, Christmas memories – Pete Simpkin

Here is a podcast from presenter and producer Pete Simpkin reminiscing on diverse experiences of working over Christmas on Radio Birmingham and Radio WM.

Andy Walters left the following comment on the Facebook page: ‘It’s not that much different today. This years WM Carol service was recorded last Monday. I have fond memories of being sat in what became known as Area 3 in Pebble Mill devouring Producers tins of sweets as they were bought in.’

Cartoons of Pete Simpkin – Radio Birmingham

‘Good Company’ OB to the Saddlers Centre

Rolf Harris cartoon of Pete

Yoga on the Radio

Radio Birmingham producer/presenter Pete Simpkin has three cartoons of himself from when he worked at Pebble Mill. The first relates to an OB he did for the Afternoon show ‘Good Company’, from the Saddlers Centre, Walsall. The second was drawn by Rolf Harris whilst Pete interviewed him, and the third is about the famous ‘Yoga by Radio’ which was pioneered on Radio Birmingham.