‘Pebble Mill at One’ – Bugs Bunny Cartoon from Kevin Lakin

'Bugs Bunny' cartoon by Chuck Jones

This sketch was done by Chuck Jones… the inventor, producer, director of Bugs Bunny and many other cartoon characters.   He was on Pebble Mill at One in 1979, being interviewed by, I think, Bob Langley….. and while being interviewed, he was sketching and throwing them on the floor. After the show, he signed this one and gave it to me. I have been offered £500 pounds for this sketch, but I’m keeping it for now.

Kevin Lakin

‘Pebble Mill at One’ Running Order 1981 – David Short

Here is a running order that I kept from my first day as a trainee camera assistant at Pebble Mill. I had arrived from the training dept at Evesham and reported for duty on Monday, 21st September, 1981. I was taken up to the floor where the old bar used to be, to meet the crew (led by Keith Salmon) who were playing snooker before rehearsals began. “Landed on my feet here”, I thought!!

David Short – Cameraman at Pebble Mill from Sept. 1981 until May 1985 (when I transferred to TV Centre)

(The producer of this episode was Stephanie Silk, the director Tony Rayner, and the PA probably Jane McLean)

'Pebble Mill at One' - Running Order

Studio C – Walkway Sign

Studio C Walkway Sign

This sign used to hang on the walkway at the back of Studio C at Pebble Mill.  Studio C was originally the entrance foyer, which was then converted into the studio for Pebble Mill at One. It was later used for Good Morning with Anne and Nick.  At the back of the foyer was a corridor which led to Studio A, Make Up and the dressing rooms.  This corridor had to be closed when Studio C was being used, so that people weren’t walking through the back of shot.  When the Studio was in use only the top sign was displayed, with the lower one being taken up and down, depending on whether you were allowed to walk through or not.

The sign was rescued by James Patterson from Pebble Mill before it was demolished and is now proudly displayed in the Post Production area of BBC Birmingham, in the Mailbox, next to the sink and the drinks machine!

Song for Christmas – Lynda Kettle’s photos

Photos by Lynda Kettle, no reproduction without permission.  Lynda Kettle was a Production Designer at BBC Pebble Mill, working on factual, entertainment and drama shows in studio and on location.  The photos were taken as records of the Sets.

Song for Christmas was an annual children’s carol competition, and part of Pebble Mill at One.  Mark Kershaw was the director of the Song for Christmas shown in the photos, and David Weir was the producer.  Lynda Kettle designed the set in Studio A.  I’m not sure which year the photos are from, but probably 1985 0r 1986.

Production Designer, Lynda Kettle also worked as a theatre designer and an artist, and now runs courses from her art studio http://www.lynda-kettle.com.  She is a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham Water Colour Society. Midland Pastel Society and Birmingham Art Circle . She exhibits her paintings several times a year at selected galleries.

Song for Christmas

Aerial Shots of Pebble Mill

Here are some aerial photos of Pebble Mill taken in the early 1970s.  Thanks to Keith Ackrill, Juliet Dean and Maggie Humphries for making the photos available.  The black and white photo was taken for Pebble Mill at One from a high speed RAF fighter.

Aerial of Pebble Mill taken from an RAF fighter