Radio WM – Page 2 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Pete Simpkin oral history

This is a specially recorded oral history interview with radio producer and presenter, Pete Simpkin, who worked on both Radio Birmingham and Radio WM at BBC Pebble Mill.

Radio Producer, Pete Simpkin.

Pope John Paul II, Souvenir Programme

Radio WM covered the visit to the Midlands of Pope John Paul II in 1982. Radio WM engineer, Rod Fawcett, worked on the radio programme from Coventry, and kept the souvenir programme safe since then.

Local Radio OB set up

Photo by Rod Fawcett, no reproduction without permission

This photo from Radio WM engineer, Rod Fawcett, shows a typical local radio outside broadcast set-up.

Stuart Roper and Gyn Freeman, Radio WM

Photo by Rod Fawcett, no reproduction without permission

Radio WM presenter, Stuart Roper, with fellow presenter, Gyn Freeman in the background. This was on a live outside broadcast in Guernsey.

The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Andrew Thorman: ‘The only OB I remember was Chemsleywood …! We were pelted with rubbish and so a fence was erected around us. I think the presenter was Ken Dudney.’

Heather Dale: ‘Gyn presented very much with Stuart and she replaced Viv Ellis who left in the early 80’s. When Stuart left, Gyn continued on her own for a number of years being produced by either Sue Kelly or Soo Welch (can’t exactly remember who). Gyn herself left in 1988 but continued at PM concentrating on Children in Need in regional television. She now lives in France with her husband Paul and she is an artist.’

Conal O’Donnell: ‘I should imagine, but don’t know for sure, there was some new Birmingham to Channel Islands air route opening up which wanted the publicity that WM might provide. Freebies were welcome!! Gyn & Stuart co-presented so its likely there was a separate producer.

John Taynton compliments slip

It’s amazing what can turn up in a charity shop. Luke Earle found this comp slip, which looks like it is from Radio WM presenter, John Taynton to someone called Roy who presumably won a competition, on a shelf in a Belper charity shop. I wonder how it got there?

The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:

Gyn Freeman: ‘That is so good ….. but yes it would have been a book with an interview, but some review copy and Roy, won it …… so good to hear it was in a Charity shop though ….’