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Prologue
This article started with Reg and I sitting in my lounge, sipping cups of coffee, and staring at a blank sheet of paper. Where to start? How to condense the experiences of over 90 years, and a photographic involvement covering almost eighty, into a few pages? All that could be hoped for was to discover the highlights of his long and eventful life, and to reflect the enthusiasm and humour that are essential elements of his character. I hope that the following paragraphs achieve that aim.
Profile
To put his time-span into context it is interesting to recall some of the events that occurred. A year after his birth in September 1912, Oskar Barnack was hand-building a 35mm camera, a development of which was later to be manufactured by the Leitz company as the Leica. This was at a time when the camera world was dominated by fairly bulky plate cameras for the serious photographer, and (what we would now call) medium format film cameras, either in box or folding forms. The intervention of the Great War slowed further developments, but from the early 1920s onwards these gathered pace. These included the introduction of Leica, Contax and Kodak (amongst others) 35mm camera ranges, the introduction of 16mm colour cine film, Rolleiflex twin-lens cameras, the first SLR, and strobe electronic flash. Following the Second World War, Kodacolor film was introduced, the Polaroid instant picture camera was invented, and the Nikon 35mm camera was introduced in Japan. In more recent times, in 1982, Sony demonstrated the Mavica still digital camera. This never went into production, but this and the other developments mentioned marked significant milestones in the progress of photography up to the present time.
Reg could not have visualised these tremendous leaps in technology when he first handled the Box Brownie that his father gave him at the age of 12. Impressed by his prowess with this humble camera, his father then gave him a Kodak Autographic IA folding camera in 1925. (The Autographic had a small flap in the camera back, which with the aid of a small stylus enabled the photographer to ‘write’ a brief note that appeared when the film was developed) In those days a local chemist did the developing and printing, but this was to change when Reg started work.
His father was a senior manager for the auditing company Price Waterhouse, and Reg followed him into this company. Reg began auditing the accounts of LMS Railways, and subsequently became a member of the LMS (London) Photographic Society. There were darkrooms at their Euston Square premises, and Reg made use of these during lunch times. An interesting insight into the photographic activities at that time is revealed in a faded society programme that Reg still retains from the 1930/31 season. Most significant is a lecture in December 1930, given by Dr Ernst Leitz, demonstrating the Leica camera system. Amongst the list of society posts is that of ‘Honorary Lanternist’. (This is the equivalent of our projectionist, but as I recalled in our discussions, when I first joined Reigate PS the projectionist post wasstillreferred to as Honorary Lanternist!).
In 1931 Reg acquired a Sanderson ¼ plate camera. This had a triple extension and a full range of lens movements. He had three double-sided plate carriers (giving a total of six plates to expose before returning to the darkroom). Most photographs were taken with the camera mounted on a wooden tripod. Over time he accumulated a great number of glass negatives, but unfortunately these were destroyed at his Streatham home in late 1944 when a German bomb destroyed the roof. Film might have survived, but the glass plates were shattered by the explosion.
Over the years Reg worked in a series of auditing and accounting jobs, initially associated with the film industry. However, he briefly tried selling the Encyclopaedia Britannica (not a success story!), and then spent about six years as a travelling salesman for textiles. Subsequently he returned to accounting, and continued with a series of jobs in this capacity until his ‘retirement’ at about the age of 70. After his so-called retirement he continued employment on a part-time basis, initially for a wine merchant, and then doing bookkeeping for about 5 years with Harris, the joinery company which occupies the premises nearby.
In 1951 Reg purchased a second-hand Leica camera, one of the early models with a fixed lens. In the early sixties he moved to his present location at Lower Kingswood, where he had the house built to his own design. This included the odd feature (to non-enthusiastic photographers at least!) of an integral darkroom facility in his bedroom! This saved having to go too far after a late-night session of enlarging and printing! The house is located at the top of a slope with a lawn that sweeps down to the far boundary (and which has been the venue for many of our summer garden parties, and site for the accompanying games of croquet). There are also areas where he grows vegetables and fruit. His dedication to the task of managing this garden is probably reflected in the fact that, at the latest count, Reg has no fewer than four garden sheds! These contain two sets of garden tools, to save him trundling up and down too much.
Having moved to this area, he joined the Reigate PS, at about the same time as Alan Ainsworth. The two soon became firm friends and over a number of years (principally during the 80s) they went on holiday together, especially to Spain. Longer-term members will recall the many images which both produced from that region. They will possibly also recall what came to be known as Reg’s ‘Yellow Period’ when he took up colour printing. Judges can be very unkind about what they refer to as colour casts, but Reg would agree that at least some of these comments were justified. What few people knew was that Reg suffered what he terms a ‘bleeding eye’ at this time which affected his colour perception, and it was only due to rapid diagnosis, and corrective surgery, that he did not suffer severe sight problems in subsequent years.
In later years Alan and Reg were joined on the holiday excursions by Steve Lawrenson, and the Three Musketeers as I called them, enjoyed their travels together over a number of years until Alan’s retirement in 1994. Everyone was saddened by Alan’s untimely death in 1996, within two years of his retirement, and the final combined holiday, with just Reg and Steve, took place to France in 1995.
During his time with the society Reg undertook several committee functions, including Programme Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman. In more recent times, in recognition of his services to the society, he was appointed President. Away from Reigate, he became a judge for the Surrey Federation (now SPA, the Surrey Photographic Association). He has also been Treasurer, President and Vice President of that association. His services to photography were further recognised, and he is now privileged to add APAGB to his title.
Over the years he acquired a variety of cameras, amongst which were a Leica Reflex (which did not impress him!), two Minolta 9000 SLRs (which followed the 7000, one of the first successful auto-focus cameras), a Mamiya 645 medium format camera, a handy little compact Ricoh GR1S (which he absolutely adores), and most recently a Canon EOS 300V SLR and selection of lenses. Never used, but in his collection of photographic equipment, are two beautiful wooden-bodied plate cameras, complete with double-sided wooden plate carriers.
Having grown up in parallel with all the photographic developments that took place over the best part of a century, it is relevant to ask if Reg has converted to digital technology. The answer is that he still takes all his photographs with film, either 35mm or medium format. However, with the help of Margaret these results are now scanned, and submitted as digital prints.
It would be easy to think that Reg’s leisure time was devoted solely to photography, such has been his involvement and commitment over a long period of time. However, this could not be further from the truth. In his early years he studied furniture design and construction, pottery and painting. He readily admits that activities based on these skills have not occupied a great deal of his time since, but he can produce the odd pot or oil painting as evidence of his longer-term interest in these subjects! Also, at about the age of 15 he had a Hobbies lathe. At about the age of 80 he decided that he would like to revive his interest in wood turning. He purchased a much more professional lathe, and with guidance from Jack Thomas he has been honing his skills on this equipment.
As if this were not enough, he and his wife Renate have had a long-lasting interest in archaeology. Back in 1955, and in successive years, there was hands-on involvement with digs at the Mithras Temple in London, Cheapside, and a Roman fort at Caerleon near Newport in Wales. Most holidays have also been planned around visits to historical and archaeological sites in such countries as France, Italy, Holland, Spain, Turkey and Greece.
Talk of travel brings us to the subject of motoring. Most of his touring has been done in the various cars that he has owned over the years. A more varied mix would be difficult to envisage! It all started in 1932 with a second-hand (1927 model) Jowett 2-seater. There followed a large Lagonda tourer, Riley 9 and Austin 7. When new cars became available on the home market after WW2 Reg purchased a Jowett Jupiter. This was followed by a Jaguar saloon, but when Reg’s work-place at that time relocated further away, the fuel consumption (16mpg) caused Reg to replace it with a Trojan bubble-car – which did more like 60mpg! The Trojan’s design was based upon that of a German bubble-car, and so (despite being British-built) retained left-hand drive. The motor-cycle engine that powered it had no reverse gear, but the car was so light that it was easy to get out and lift it the right way round! Even this little car was used for touring in Europe, and Reg has a photo showing it with all the holiday gear piled up in the back.
Another vehicle used for touring was a Fiat van, which Reg converted to a form of camper complete with side windows. His current mode of transport is a Fiat Panda – the 4x4 four-wheel drive version. However, his greatest affection is reserved for the Jowett Jupiter. After many years languishing in a garage this car has been fully restored by his grandson Richard. Richard’s father, Nick, was originally a manager at Land Rover, and having retired took up a post at the Gaydon Heritage Motor Museum. As a result the Jowett spends some of its time on display at the Museum.
Another grandson, Howard, was encouraged to take an interest in photography by Reg. As a result Howard subsequently became a professional freelance photographer. He has pursued this career for about 15 years to date. During that time he has been involved in projects on behalf of Help The Aged in Rwanda and Kosovo. It is a matter of pride to Reg that Howard took up this career as a result of his encouragement.
The information in this article presents only a tiny insight into Reg’s life, but it is obvious that his commitment to all of the varied jobs, hobbies and interests has been total. Even with advancing years, and the limitations that this sometimes poses, his enthusiasm remains undimmed. As a privilege of age he is allowed his occasional ‘Victor Meldrew’ moment, but it never takes long for his good humour to shine through. His apparently unstoppable zest for life, and willingness to take on new challenges, is an admirable example for all of us. The society is fortunate to have him as its President.
Postscript
The task of collating the information for this article was an absolute joy. Recalling the events of 90 plus years is far from easy, but Reg’s stories came tumbling out with a clarity and freshness that belied the years in between. I already knew some details of his past, but it was a revelation to discover even more about the events, both good and sometimes sad, in his life. Our discussions roamed over so many different aspects of his life; not just his photographic interests. The significant thread running through all of this is his enthusiasm and good humour. Combined with this is his ability to spring surprises. Only Reg, to my knowledge, has produced his own hand-made ID card! But that’s another story, and you’ll have to persuade Reg to let you in on that secret!
Peter Flower – March 2004.
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