I
found Repton School a most charming venue. An old established building
with hugh wooden beams, stone walls, deep windows and heavy oak
furnishings.
33
members turned up with many `new` faces and Didcot regulars. Many having
travelled considerable distances. Being a new venue WE weren`t quite
sure what to expect and/or what was really available and one error was
made, in that we set the projectors etc up in this one room, only to
find later that a fully blacked-out projection room was available next
door and we used a less than perfect blackout situation. However
with experience we shall know better next time.
A.G.M
. REPORT
A
fuller report is given by Chairman Pete Guy on page 3 but I would like
to say here how saddened I was to hear that Secretary Ron Croad and
Treasurer Colin Powell had decided to stand down from their positions. I
have enjoyed a long and extremely friendly relationship with Ron and
Colin, as indeed I have with all of our Executive Officers but I think
Ron and Colin have added to this by the magnificent efforts they have
put into their office simply out of their love of the Club. None of the
Committee get paid expenses, apart from Postage and stationary costs and
attend meetings travelling at their own cost and time.
Colin
has worked wonders with our finances and Ron has added considerably to
the Club`s financial stability with sales of film and chemicals as well
as the numerous other jobs he carries out for our club pleasure.
It was most heartening to see and hear the enormous applause Ron
and Colin received from the members present and I am sure everyone would
like to share in that well deserved acclaim.
To
save some time all other officers were voted in, `on block` but of
course the Treasurer and Secretary positions remain open to further
discussion. These are two very important positions and require your most
serious consideration and if you think you could do the work please get
in touch with us as soon as possible. All help and assistance will be
given on the requirements.
Brian
Asquith explained that the Library could be used a lot more and
discussed the possibility of buying further `technical` books which
would be of interest to members. The library stock has been increased
considerably over the last year and I would recommend that you take
advantage of this valuable service. You will find Brian`s address on
page !! and he will be pleased to hear from you.
PRINT
EXHIBITION
Three
members set up their prints and what a super display. Rita Pearle and
son John presented numerous Cibachrome prints from their slide
collection. Too many to comment upon but one in particular was of a
close up of three "Peppers", in red, green and yellow which
looked so real you could taste them.
Rita and John, along with the Late major Pearle have designed and
built many gadgets over the years and the excellence and dexterity of
their work. John continued this when it was realised. just the night
before the meeting, that no print stands were available. John arrived at
Repton having built three stands made from plastic tubing and hardboard.
Excellent effort John and we thank you very much. It really was nice
meeting you both again after a long absence from our meetings.
The
second print exhibit was set up by Dave Morrell (Area 4 Co-rdinator) and
Ken Smith who had come down from Middlesbrough. These were of some quite
extraordinary B&W & colour prints covering interest from the
Lake District and Scottish scenes, to fine portraits. (See Ken`s latest
article on B&W work on pages 8 - 9). Another fine example of the
high quality work CRC members are producing.
SLIDE
PRESENTATION
John
Salter (Area 9) started off with a fine selection from of a holiday to
Iceland. John used two GAF 525 projectors and the slides were on
Konicachrome processed in a Photocolour 3 Bath kit. The slides were
accompanied by a live talk from John.
The
holiday covered virtually all of Iceland and nearby islands. We saw
everything from interesting churches and cathedrals totally built of
concrete yet as finely designed as any elsewhere. Vast empty landscapes
to small towns and dwellings taking in local dress, customs and
superstitions. Saw how land was formed from erupting volcanos to the
`frost caves` formed by the old tunnels of lava collapsing in on
themselves, to beautiful crystal clear hot springs and gysers, with some
very amusing additions using the two projectors to advantage.
This
was followed by another two projector A/V presentation by Brian Asquith
(CRC Librarian) and John Batty from Area 9. Two Kodak Carousels were
used with full sound syncronization with slides from Sakurachrome,
Konicachrome and Ektachrome films processed in W&M brews.
The
programme consisted of 6 short pieces. First was "Well
Dressing" which showed how these attractive and colourful pieces of
art are put together and how they looked once completed and set up at
numerous sights around the midlands. There is certainly more work and
effort involved than the finished work can ever display.
Next
was a very amusing ditty called "Reluctant" which consisted of
a small boy dreading having a haircut, to the patience and control by
the hairdresser to keep him calm, to the refrain of "But I don`t
want me hair cut". Something a little different and well
worthwhile.
This
was followed by "Adwalton Moor 1643" an excellent record of
the Sealed Knot Society staging this English Civil War battle. This was
accompanied with excellent sounds of the battle.
Then,
"On The Beach" a pleasant look around Abersoch beach, in North
Sales simply observing human activities on and about the beach but with
unexpected amusement of adding comment `bubbles` putting comical words
and thoughts to the characters photographed. e.g. Two little girls, one
posing in her swim suite with a bubble saying "I want to be a model
when I grow up" and the girl opposite, quite uninterested as she
builds sand pies "You Would".
The
next was my favourite, "Huddersfield Narrow Canal", which gave
some historical facts to the building and demise of a canal that
traverses some of the nicest South Yorkshire countryside between
Manchester and Huddersfield as it followed the railway line and a long
narrow tunnel through the hillside. Some very nice slides here.
This
excellent collection of programmes concluded with "Castles in the
Air" accompanied to a recording of the same titled song and
presented views of children with their hopes, dreams and fears as they
grow up in an ever dangerous and confusing world. Our thanks to Brian
and John for not only showing such entertaining slides but also for
showing what A/V is all about.
Pete
Guy next ran a competition of 34 slides sent in by members. The audience
selected three slides which were marked on cards and afterwards a winner
was selected. The winner was John Batty with an excellent close-up of a
bird.
The
prize was a very nice piece of Connamara Marble that was kindly donated
to the Club by the late Arthur MacKee who was the Northern Ireland Area
Leader some years back. Pete had a friend make a `gold-plated` name
plate with the Clubs name on it and it is really a fine piece. John will
hold this for a full year. Congratulations John, well done.
The
final selection of the day was 30 slides sent in by members of the
Club`s Postal Folio. Each sent in five slides. However if every folio
member had entered there would have been 50 slides. The idea of this
presentation was that I felt that Folio members are producing such fine
work that they deserve a much wider audience outside the folio
circulation.
The
members who sent in slides were:- Dave Deeming of Bloxwich (Area 9),
Brian Murphy, Swansea (Area 15), Glyn Willicombe, Porlock (Area 20),
Frank Sharples, Isle of Man (Area 3) and Rita Pearle, Colchester (Area
13).
I
can assure those who kindly entered their slides that this was a greatly
appreciated section of the day`s events and everyone enjoyed viewing the
slides. It was intended to be a competition but with such a full
programme there just
wasn`t time to run a second one,
but thanks to
everyone who kindly responded. It is planned to run this again
next year and hopefully make a proper competition of it, so please give
thought to this, and I hope too that Folio membership will grow over
this season, it really is a most enjoyable part of being a Club member.
AND,
IN CONCLUSION
This
brought the meeting to a close around 5.45pm after which had been an
excellent day. I have been a member of the Club since 1974 and the one
thing the Club can be proud of is it`s great level of being informal and
members meet each other sharing equally their interest and enjoyment of
photography and home processing. Long may it continue. In Repton we have
found a centre of excellence worthy of an annual meeting place and I
hope next year will be an even greater success. Please start to plan for
this now, Whether coming for the day, or wishing to stay a bit longer
you won`t be disappointed in the venue or the surrounding countryside.
Special
thanks go to Pete Guy for the effort in organising the meeting and to
John Podmore who lives closer to the area and gave Pete considerable
help and encouragement, and finally our thanks to everyone who took the
trouble to attend and who put on a slide or print exhibition. See you
next time.
You
may ask, if Repton is to take place again, next year, where does this
leave our Didcot meetings?
Obviously most of our Club`s business has been covered at Repton,
but it was suggested that we could try holding an `Autumn` meeting at
Didcot for those in the south. Everyone I questioned was in agreement,
therefore I have approached the Didcot Staff Club and got a date booked
for Sunday the --- of October 1996 and you are most welcome to come
along.
As
there is no AGM we shall simply meet for a good chin-wag and show
whatever slides and prints that you bring along. If you can definitely
offer something please write or phone me so that I have some idea of
your interest to attend. This is the only newsletter in which we can
publicise this event, so please take note now and try to plan to come
along.