Focusing on the past with photographs

The photograph is of a leaded window in a Wiltshire building, which was the home of William Henry Fox Talbot.

Eventually there were lantern slides, which were the forerunner of the modern slide, which of course I still use today in all my talks.

The Victorians had numerous comments on these '˜pieces of card with pictures' as one statement from the Bognor Observer of December 11, 1895, shows: 'Photography affords very nice pastime to a good many people, but the multiplication of instantaneous cameras has, it is well said, become a perfect nuisance to the general public.

'You cannot multiply copies of a man's photograph without his consent. Why, asks a correspondence, should it be lawful to take a snapshot of him without his consent?'

This long report concluded that, 'there are many cases of ladies who are positively afraid to emerge from the seaside machines or tent in which they don their bathing dresses on account of this nuisance'.

How times have changed! Before long people were clamouring to buy photographs and the new postcards '“ which were definitely a multiplication of a man's image.

If you look carefully at the early stage-managed postcard views, their smiling faces suggest that they were not really as camera shy as some of the reports of the time suggest.

Mr W P Marsh, who had his studio facing the pier, advertised that he carried out instantaneous photography as it was then known.

One of his major claims to fame was that his photographs of high seas and breaking waves were shown in many major exhibitions around the country.

With the increasing interest in photography, both by the professional but increasingly by the amateur, there grew the need of a group meeting and discussion of images and ultimately the exhibiting these images to the public.

As early as 1900, the local Methodist minister, the Rev H Mudic Draper wrote to the Observer on February 21 in an attempt to understand the level of support there would be in the town for a photographic society.

Some six weeks later the Observer carried a report on the inaugural meeting by a Dr Tidcome on the '˜History of Photography' an interesting title on such a new innovation.

Photograph albums are a great source of interest and information. I have one that is clearly dated 1904 and shows pictures of the town including a view of the railway station platform '“ I am not sure of the significance of this!

During the 1900s, pictures and images were used in a variety of ways. Some of the images were then placed onto cups, plates and a variety of shaped china, when it was popular to take home a piece of china, to join the growing hobby of collecting.

There is no information on the fortunes of the Rev Draper's society or the ones that were started in 1919 by Edward Cleeves or a further attempt in the 1920s. One can only assume there was a lack of interest in this type of society. Perhaps it was still seen as a rich man's hobby. I mentioned the name of Cleeves above. There were many notable photographers in the town which included Cleeves who were situated on the Esplanade and in the High Street, where today we have the National Westminster Bank. This chemist and photographer would take pictures of the town and then produce his own home made postcards. Another was King and Wilson which was renowned for taking a picture one day and publishing it the next as a postcard, with the date written on the front.

Interestingly, photography clubs seemed to remain silent until 1939 when another group of enthusiasts, headed by Teddy Cleeves, attempted to start another club. However world events placed this activity into the shadows, with the lack of materials, time constraints and so many people being involved with the war effort.

Following the war, materials became available again and wartime photographers returned to find employment.

One such was Alan Chase who had been a RAF photographer and he started a photographic studio locally. This eventually grew into the Sussex Camera shops that we know today. However the pre-war group must have had a strong foundation because in 1947 they reformed and held their first meeting as Bognor Regis and District Camera Club in October of that year.

This enthusiastic group met regularly in the High Street in the Polly Anne Restaurant.

Within 12 months of their formation, Bognor Regis and District Camera Club and their increasing membership felt able to mount their first exhibition of photographs.

These were exhibited in the public library which at that time was in London Road, behind the Hansfords store.

Over the years, the camera club has met at various venues including the Octagon Room above the Picturedrome and in the library in London Road.

The increasing number of newspaper, magazines and books requiring photographs has certainly fuelled everyone's interest. For others, pictures can keep memories alive

One notable colourful event is the Clown Convention. Pictures taken at this event have appeared throughout the world, adorning magazines.

Photography has changed dramatically since the 1900s with the arrival of the digital camera and camera phones so that photography has certainly become available to everyone.

You only have to go to an event in the town to see children as young as five using cameras.

During the summer, Bognor Regis Camera Club held its 59th exhibition in Sudley Road. The photographs showed an interesting range of images. On display also images manipulated through the use of computers. From September 18, Bognor Regis Camera Club commences its 60th year. Not all the members are old though '“ every age group is encouraged to join the weekly meetings at South Bersted Church Hall. Please contact the secretary on secretary@

bognorregiscameraclub.org.uk for more details of membership, just go along at 7.30pm, or visit the club website.

Luckily for the local historian, many images have been captured for us to enjoy today. One word of caution, do we all write the date on our photographs? I know I don't '“ so that in future, people will be asking, 'when was that picture of the Regis Centre taken?'

From digital camera to computer, these are now truly the instantaneous photographs once despised by the Victorians.

Don't forget this is Heritage Weekend. Today (Thursday) is a guided walk through Hotham Park, meeting at 2.30pm outside the Lodge at the entrance to the park in the Upper Bognor Road entrance. On Saturday, the Ice House will be open from 10am to noon and again from 2-4pm.