Television – Page 231 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Doctors, after the bombing – photos by Neil Roberts

Photos by Neil Roberts, no reproduction without permission.

‘Doctors’ was probably the last production to finish recording at Pebble Mill, and decided to go out with a bang rather than a whimper. Taking advantage of the fact that the building was going to be demolished they staged a bomb blast in the Riverside Surgery and Lether Bar, on the last day of shooting.

Neil Roberts, who still edits ‘Doctors’ from its new site at Birmingham University, took these photos after the last shoot. Neil was the last avid editor in Pebble Mill, fine cutting ‘Doctors’ – it must have felt like being on the Marie Celeste! Chris Rowlands performed the last online edit at Pebble Mill, onlining the ‘Doctors’ episode which Neil offlined, the following day in VTA.

RAC Rally – photos by Paul Scholes

Photos by Paul Scholes, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are from the outside broadcast of the annual RAC Rally called ‘Rally Report’, which was produced at Pebble Mill for many years. The team would record and edit from the location, moving on each day, finishing the nightly broadcast and transmitting via satellite from the OB truck.

The top photo shows left to right: Chris Rowlands (film editor), Ken Pollock (producer), Jon Bentley (producer and now presenter of Fifth Gear), Gurpi Sani (post production engineer), Pete Shannon (editor). The lower photo shows Jon Bentley and Pete Shannon.

Space Station Milton Keynes – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photographs by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission

Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

‘Space Station Milton Keynes’ was a Screen Two drama written and directed by Leslie Stewart. It went out in 1985. Colin Rogers was the producer, John Williams the DOP, and Steve Saunderson cameraman.

The drama tells the story of a young girl fostered in a magical city. It starred Penny Murray, Patricia Garwood, Peter Jonfield, Judy Gridley, Gian Sammarco, Nigel Baguley, and Robert Walker.

The first photo shows (l to r) Ian McNulty (grips), Leslie Stewart (writer/director), Steve Saunderson (camera), Colin Rogers (producer), John Williams (DOP). The second tracking shot photo, shows Leslie Stewart and Colin Rogers running, and Steve Saunderson on camera. The final photo includes John Cole (sound), Steve Saunderson (camera), with John Williams (DOP) foreground left, with probably Leslie Stewart and Colin Rogers (producer).

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Patrick Flavelle filming 1989 – photo by Gail Herbert

Photo by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

This photo from 1989 is of Patrick Flavelle, on the left, (with the clipboard), directing on ‘Countryfile’. The man with the rabbit is presenter Roger Tabor.

Patrick adds the following comment:

‘It was for a piece called ‘What’s British?’ about common animals and plants that you might imagine were native to Britain. Rabbits,not, Horse Chestnut, not etc Roger Tabor presenting and shot at Packington Estate who were really helpful. No facility fee as long as we didn’t say where we were. Very unlike the National Trust!
Nigel Davey on camera I think and my first solo shoot as Director. Clipboard, bouffant hair and pretending I know what I’m doing.’

‘Urban Jungle’ – photos by Willoughby Gullachsen

Photographs by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.

The photos are of ‘Urban Jungle’ a Robin Midgley, Pebble Mill, studio drama, from around 1985. The main photo is of a technical run at Moseley Hall.

The large photo shows Robin Midgley himself on the left hand side, Sally Daniels (PA), Annette Martin (light coloured top), Phil Wilson (camera), Charlie Bond (production designer), Ian Tootle (AFM), Andrew Smith (1st AD) (beard, nr door on right hand side).

The drama starred Roy Kinnear, Annie Raitt, and Tim Roth. Unfortunately it didn’t ever make transmission.

Thanks to Gareth Williams for identifying the drama, he was a newly arrived floor assistant on the show.