Television – Page 222 – What Was Pebble Mill?

The World of James Herriot – exhibition

Photos copyright of ‘The World of James Herriot’, no reproduction without permission.

‘The World of James Herriot’ in Thirsk in North Yorkshire celebrates the life of ‘James Herriot’ (James Alfred Wight). It is currently staging a special exhibition about ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. The series was filmed on location in Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales, with the interiors recorded in Pebble Mill’s Studio A.

Several months ago the organiser of the exhibition asked permission to use some of the ‘All Creatures’ photos posted on this website – which the takers of those photos were happy to agree to. Tim Savage had taken photos of the Studio sets, and Maggie Thomas of the locations. Several people who worked on the series are also quoted in the exhibition, including make-up designer, Maggie Thomas and sound technician, Paul Balmer.

The organiser of special exhibition sent me these photos of the display, and you can see Paul and Maggie’s contributions on one of the boards.

End of Gardeners’ World Party 1991 – photos by Gail Herbert

Photographs by Gail Herbert no reproduction without permission.

These photos were taken at the end of ‘Gardeners’ World’ party 1991. This was when ‘Gardeners’ World’ stopped being made in-house at Pebble Mill, and became an independent production, made by Catalyst Television. Ten years later the contract returned to BBC Birmingham.

The first photo includes left to right: Steph Silk (editor), Vanessa Jackson (researcher), Sophie Marsh (production secretary), Patti Evans (PA), Chris Hardman (PA).

The second photo includes Annette Martin (director), Alan Duxbury (cameraman).

All Together Now – photo from John Greening

‘All Together Now’ was a play about a brass band (mildly comic) and a pre cursor to the Pete Postlethwaite film ‘Brassed Off’. Clive Swift, is the father of gardening presenter Joe Swift, and later went on to work on ‘Keeping Up Appearances’. The play was originally a theatre piece, playing at the Nottingham Playhouse, amongst others.

Clive Swift has identified those in the photo, and makes the following comments: from left to right the actors are Ann Hockney (an amateur I think), Chrissy Roberts, ME, Alan Starkey, Michael Griffiths. The play, directed by Robin Midgley and written by Peter Buckman, was debuted at The Haymarket Theatre, LEICESTER, on 1979. (It later played at the Greenwich theatre, London, with Tony Steedman replacing me in the lead, and was televised on BBC 1 during the 1980′s, with me again). Director David Attwood’s debut.

Gardeners’ World – photos by Gail Herbert

Photos by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are of ‘Gardeners’ World’ shoots from around 1989. This was just after the programme moved to single camera production, instead of a two camera outside broadcast.

The first includes (left to right) presenter Nigel Colborn, director Annette Martin, PA Gail Herbert, sound Paul Taylor.

The second photo is taken at Barnsdale, presenter Geoff Hamilton’s garden, and main location of the popular series in the 1980s. It shows Geoff recording a piece to camera in the snow.

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.”