Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> PEBBLE MILL ANNIVERSARY http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1491561791 Message started by Roundabout on Apr 7^th, 2017, 10:44am

Title: PEBBLE MILL ANNIVERSARY
Post by Roundabout on Apr 7^th, 2017, 10:44am

Just to mark the day today fifty years ago, April 7th 1967, the then DG Hugh Carleton Green dug the first turf to begin the building of what became the BBC's best out of London Centre. Eventually street signs appeared heralding, and directing people to, the BBC's new presence in the City of Birmingham. Today not only has this wonderful centre of excellence disappeared but there are no signs in the streets to acknowledge the presence of the BBC at all.

Title: Re: PEBBLE MILL ANNIVERSARY
Post by apcwmwl on Apr 7^th, 2017, 2:43pm

Interestingly, the site of Pebble Mill is and will be host to the new dental hospital, a care home, and a new private hospital. The first sod for hospital was due to be dug today and the developers were to mark the occasion by acknowledging the previous history. Additionally a group of ex Pebble Mill colleagues are arranging for a Blue Plaque to remember the iconic centre of broadcasting in The Midlands. Midlands Today is reporting on this 50th. anniversary this evening. No doubt any item will be available on-line.
Pebble Mill is recalled with great affection by all who worked there, and its passing was much regretted. It's like will never be seen again, alas, especially now that control of everything has bee ceeded to government quangos and a management which couldn't make a programme to save their lives.

Title: Re: PEBBLE MILL ANNIVERSARY
Post by Roundabout on Apr 8^th, 2017, 8:00am

Strangely the Midlands Today edition at 6.30 did not mention the 50th anniversary but did feature the Blue Plaque scheme.

Title: Re: PEBBLE MILL ANNIVERSARY
Post by Geoffrey Drama on Apr 13^th, 2017, 10:38am

It was a great place to work for a TVC Production Assistant. My production was "Middlemen" directed by Ian McNaughton. The BBC originally stated that BBC was too London Centric, hence the dawn of Pebble Mill and "2nd City Firsts" Dramas, Produced by David Rose, as well as many more diverse TV offerings such as "Pebble Mill at One" ...

In their wisdom they allowed it to be demolished and years later, stated for the second time that the BBC was too London Centric. So, guess what?! Yes, they created BBC Salford, and at great expense. We really did suffer from bad management and costly misjudgments in those intervening years.

Stil,l I loved my days working at Pebble Mill and remembering Drama's Dawn Robertson and a young Michael Wearing.