John King – Page 6 – What Was Pebble Mill?

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.

On Her Majesty’s Service – Pilot

Copyright remains with the original holder, no reproduction without permission. Photos from Gail Herbert. Gail was the PA on ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’.

‘On Her Majesty’s Service’ was a drama pilot made by John King’s department in 1988, which never went out. It depicted life in a British army camp during the era of National Service.

Tim Manning, who worked on the pilot added this information: “This was a comedy drama pilot about National Service, which starred Keith Barron. It was lovingly made, involving nearly everyone in John King’s LE team (script by members of it, too), but though a full pilot was commissioned, the series wasn’t. I can’t remember whether it coincided with a change of BBC1 Controller; and you have to bear in mind too that there was fierce competition from London departments for slots for this kind of thing.”

Some of the filming took place on the Severn Valley Railway, as shown in the photos.

P.A. Course – Gail Herbert’s photos

Photos from Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

These photos are of the Production Assistant Course from 1988. Included in the photos are: Stephanie Ash (CE), Martine Crogan (M/C), Corinne Davies (M/C) , Patti Evans (PM), Gail Herbert (PM), Julia Hickman S&C, Helen Jackson (M/C), Yvonne James (Cardiff), Rebecca Martin (Schools), Deborah Moore (CE), Jennifer Slatter (Plymouth), Lorna Taschini (OU).

Patti Evans worked on many gardening programmes from Pebble Mill, as did Gail, although she also worked on ‘Top Gear’, in John King’s department, and on ‘Points of View’. Helen Jackson moved down to Pebble Mill from Manchester, and worked on ‘Gardeners’ World’, and other gardening output, before moving south and giving up TV.

Stefan Buczacki – ‘Gardening Britain’ & ‘Gardening Roadshow’

Photos by Gail Herbert, no reproduction without permission.

Gardening writer, presenter and plant pathologist Dr Stefan Buczacki made a number of gardening series at BBC Pebble Mill:

Stefan Buczacki’s Gardening Britain was a six part series transmitted in 1996 on BBC 2. Stefan travelled round Britain dispensing gardening advice. This series was recorded as a two camera outside broadcast. The producer was Clare Boulter and the series producer Clare Stride. (The end of run meal features in the photos).
Stefan Buczacki’s Gardening Roadshow was a similar gardening advice show produced at Pebble Mill in 1998 for UK Style. Again it was recorded as a two camera outside broadcast. The crew for the series included cameraman Nigel Davey and Noel Paley, and sparks Herbie Donnelly.
Stefan also presented several stories for Gardeners’ World in 1990-1, including a feature on the restoration of Heligan Gardens in Cornwall, shown in one of the photos (Stefan with umbrella and palm trees).
Stefan also presented a series for UK Style called Stefan’s Ultimate Gardens, where he helped garden owners create a particular style of garden. This series was recorded single camera. Series producer Vanessa Jackson, director Paul Newman, researcher Emily Rusted.

Thanks to production assistant Gail Herbert for sharing her photos.

Stefan Buczacki at Heligan Gardens

Andy Meikle’s Golden Oldie Picture Show video

This photo is of Pebble Mill producer Andy Meikle. The tricycle was used for the film he directed on the Golden Oldie Picture Show. The Golden Oldie Picture Show was presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis, the exec producer was John King. Guest directors were asked to create music videos for popular hits which had never had videos made. The song he was creating a video for was “Down, Down” by Status Quo and it was shot at Tatton Park in Cheshire. The story was about a load of rockers fighting over a girl in a hay rick!

Andy actually drove the bike up and down the M6.

(Thanks to Annie Gumbley for making the photo available, and to Gail Herbert for the information).

Andy Meikle test drives the props!