Before the camera

Where to start… we have so many images captured by our Dad, Roger, that it makes it difficult to know where to start. Our discussions since we thought of making a lasting tribute to his work have been, “Oh yes, we must include that”, and “What about the time when”, that it means the memories stand out, but then spin together racing around almost out of reach.

So, for my start, I guess it has to be there always being a camera in our home and how lucky we are to have so many memories captured. And so, where did it all begin…

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Photo: Dad in 1950s, photographed by Mum

Looking back at old albums, it was our Mum, Greta, who had the early interest in cameras and it is her pictures that show their early beginnings together as a couple in the 1950s.

Photo: Mum and Dad on her father’s tractor in Felthorpe

And one my favourite photos, shown below taken by Dad, experimenting with the camera timer to get a shot of them both, and reading a camera magazine!

Amazing to think that he carved out a long career in photography that spanned five decades; including over thirty years with Norwich City FC, capturing Royals in Norfolk, music icons and celebrities, and horse racing on track, gallops and stables. He loved all sport so there’s a smattering of other sports too. I hope we can do his legacy of work justice in these 90 posts between us, remembering this year which would have seen his 90th birthday.

And a little introduction to us, Roger’s daughters; Debra and Julia (Debbie and Jules). With two and half years between us, we’ve shared the ups of the wonderful childhood our parents gave us, and the downs of their health issues and final departure from this world, just 7 months apart. The thirteen boxes we put together from Dad’s office and their attic of mixed, negatives, slides, prints and digital imagery has given us lots to sort through, with wonderful treasures of family pics that we couldn’t remember, and those that we could, brought back to life.

Photo: Our first photo call by Dad. I am the baby