It was good to watch a recent repeat of ‘Kate Bush at the BBC’. It featured her singing on Saturday Night at the Mill. I was secretary to Roy Ronnie and Roy Norton from 1976-1980 and she had to dictate the words of her song, which I took down in shorthand. I remember her singing it softly to me. She was fascinated by shorthand!
Happy days sharing an office with the two Roys, Keith Ackrill, Patricia Mifflin and Liz Silver.
Linda Moffat
Photos by Robin Sunderland, no reproduction without permission
These photos are from Saturday Night at the Mill, an entertainment magazine show, from the foyer studio. It was transmitted between 1976-81. Roy Ronnie was the producer, and Roy Norton the director. Bob Langley, Donny MacLeod and Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen welcomed a variety of guests. The cameramen in the second photo are Phil Wilson and Doug Smith.
Thanks to cameraman Robin Sunderland for taking and sharing the photos.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Annie Gumbley: ‘I was Roy Ronnie’s Secretary & had my training for PA from Liz Silver who worked on the series. Keith Ackrill and Tricia Sadiq (Mifflin) were part of the team too. I did about about 4 or 5 series to the finish. What memories.’
Julie Hill: ‘I remember Saturday Night at The Mill! Penny Arcatinis and I were entrusted with serving the wine to the general public.’
Chris Rogers: ‘A fab show used to watch it all the time great guests, and presenters.’
16mm frame of Roy Ronnie. Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Yesterday, 29th September 2015, Roy Ronnie’s funeral was held in Gloucestershire. Here is a still of Roy Ronnie, dating from the 1960s, from Jim Gregory. This frame is from a small film clip Jim found in a film can recently, Jim thinks that it must be an offcut from an item he was doing for Midlands at Six, the precursor to Midlands Today, which was made at the BBC studios in Broad Street, before Pebble Mill opened.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Roy Ronnie died on 18th September 2015. He produced an enormous number of shows from Pebble Mill, including 77 editions of Saturday Night at the Mill between 1976-81. Annie Gumbley-Williams was Production Secretary for the last three series, and Production Assistant on other programmes with Roy, including the fishing series, Hooked. She remembers Roy being great fun to work with, and a very talented, witty and kind man.
This photo of Roy was taken when he was Midland Region News Assistant, taken in February 1961.
Thanks to Annie Gumbley-Williams for passing on this sad news, and the information about Roy.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Julie Hill:’ So sorry to read about Roy Ronnie and send condolences to his family. Saturday Night at The Mill was a fantastic show attracting great performers & a large audience. My great friend Penny Arcatinis and I were responsible for serving wine to the public before the show! They’d scavenge through the plastic cups in search of the largest ones I recall…
Happy days. RIP Roy. You were a top Producer.’
Susan Astle: ‘Sad news, I worked on many Saturday Night at the Mill. They were always great fun and, at times, unpredictable! I think alcohol may have played a small part. Susie Bankers.’
Tim Dann: ‘Very sad…I enjoyed my time as Designer on the first series of Saturday Night at the Mill…with the two Roy’s…& again with them both on the Kate Bush special….Those ‘daze’ will never be repeated!’
David Shute: ‘Another good one’s gone. I remember doing the warm-up for Sat Night. He was a great man for encouraging people to do more than they thought possible. Super chap.’
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Draft script front page from Pop at the Mill August 1976. The show was a pop festival from the back lawn of Pebble Mill.
Thanks to sound supervisor, Roger Guest, for sharing the script, and for keeping it safe all these years.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Keith Brook (Scouse): ‘That’s interesting. I thought I vision mixed that series. Was this before or after my sojourn into button pushing?’
Susan Astle: ‘Wish I could remember….as I worked on it!’
Lynn Cullimore: ‘I remember it very well – dancing in the courtyard and the guest were Joe Brown and dare I say Gary Glitter. Many years ago and I thought it was great. Wish I had worked on it.’