History Part 4.

The 1970's (Marine and Technical College)

Winter at Cleadon © Malcolm Greenwood (1970's) 

                                  Beach © Malcolm Greenwood (1970's)

Beach (2) © Malcolm Greenwood (1970's)

Gordon Brown   Ron Brown early 70's

                                      Mr Robinson (OLD SOLDIER)

Bill Goodfellow Early 1970's

  Stan Walls and Billy Wallace (Marine and Technical College)

Mr William Wallace (left), president of South Shields Photographic Society, welcoming Mr Don Morrison, president ot the Northern Counties Photographic Federation, at the society's annual dinner in the King's Hall Looking on (left to right) are: Mrs Margaret Turton. Mr Brian Turton, vice-president of the Shields society Mrs Rebe Wallace  and Mrs Peggy Morrison.

Mr William Wallace (right), president of South Shields Photographic Society, looks on as his wife, Rebe, presents the premier award in the society's annual exhibition to Mr Robert Everson at the annual meeting in the Marine and Technical College. Also in the picture is Mr Ken Martin, secretary.
 

Brian Turton And Ron Brown (Marking The International Print Salon) 1971
 
 

The 1980's (John Wright Center)
 

By the middle of the 1975’s the facilities at the college no longer suited our needs and also due to ever increasing costs and the early curfew imposed by the college in September 1985 the Society moved from the Marine and Technical College after a twenty three year period to the John Wright Centre, Flagg Court which was just off Ocean Road following a committee visit in May 1985. We were greatly impressed at the facilities being offered. On September 3rd 1985 the society held its first meeting in the centre. The new venue which is a purposely designed building for disabled people was all on one level which meant no one had to negotiate stairs and access into the building with equipment was easy accessible via suitable placed doors. Although there was limited capacity for storage of our own equipment, we quickly made ourselves at home and enjoyed the larger space and the facilities the centre had to offer.

The new meeting place proved an instant success with all of the members, we  were now able to enjoy our meetings and at the end have a sociable chat over a cuppa without having to keep one eye on the clock, within the first year our membership had grown from 40 to 48- things were looking good.

Derek   Sylvia Lunn Gateshead Flower show outing 1980's

Kenny   and Jane Black

Presentation Evening   1985-86 Season

Presentation Evening   1986-87 Season
 

In 1987 Billy Wallace celebrated his fifty year membership of the Society having joined the Society in 1937 and sadly when he passed away in 2007 he was just nine months short of celebrating 70 years continuous membership.

Brian Turton N.C.P.F President January 1988
 

The 1990's (John Wright Center)

Another stalwart of the Society Jack Johnson APAGB celebrated his fifty year membership in 1990. In 1993 he was elected to Honorary Life President. In 1999 he was rewarded for his services to photography by the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain when the honour of APAGB was conferred on him. In 2001 he retired from committee after some 56 years service. In 2010 he will not only celebrate 70 years membership of the Society but also his 100^th Birthday, and he still attends every meeting without fail. In 2000 Stan Walls also became a recipient of an Honorary APAGB for his meritorious services to photography.
 

Our International Salon of Photography which was the only International Print Salon in the North of England was going from strength to strength. In 1990 in celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. In 1998 it was awarded a Bronze Medal by FIAP (Federation Internationale De L’ Art Photographique) as acknowledgement to the high standards and compliance with FIAP rules and regulations the Salon had attained that year. In 2007 we handed over the reigns of the Salon to the NCPF (Northern Counties Photographic Federation) and is now continuing under their direction.

The 2000's (John Wright Center)
 

In 2000 we launched our very own website under the guidance of Malcolm Lovell, our webmaster. Much praise has been received over the years for Malcolm’s work making our window into cyberspace one of the best around. In 2002 grants were secured and we were able to purchase our first Laptop computer and digital projector which led to the founding of our Digital Group. The group retains an open membership which allows anyone to come along once every two weeks to learn digital photography.

Opening of the 2002 Salon Customs House (Mill Dam)
 

The first “Digital Slide Competition” took place in December 2003 with Bill Stevens being the judge on the evening. Despite some technical hic-ups it went very well and the Society went on to set the bench mark for the format of this form of presentation which now widely in use by other photographic groups. This new format which became known as “PDI” gained in popularity as digital cameras improved and started to replace film based cameras. By 2009 club competition entries within the Society of 35mm transparencies had declined to such a degree that it was no longer viable to have the format as part of the monthly and annual competitions.

In 2004 the Society enjoyed great success in the NCPF Annual Competitions by winning the Corder Trophy (best club entry monochrome prints) and the Bewick Trophy (best club entry colour prints). This success earned us the right to participate at the PAGB National Print Championship held at Chester, where we came Third placed overall.

The 2000's (St Michaels And All Angels Parish Church)
 

By 2005 there was uncertainty about the future of the John Wright Centre as there were proposals by the local council to demolish it and eventually build a replacement. The race was on to find a new home. A trial period was taken at “Trinity House” in Laygate, but due to variant levels throughout the building it was found not suitable for our disabled membership. After a long search we were able to find a new home at St Michael and All Angels Church,Westoe Road and on the 6th September of 2005 we moved in. Membership in our new home began to flourish and the current membership is now at 60 with good average attendances each week of 40 to 50. Many of the newer members have come through from the Digital Group which also meets in St Michaels and is attracting great interest all of the time as more and more people take up an interest in photography. We do  so every Tuesday evening and alternative Wednesday except June, July and August.
 

The 2010 - 2011 Committee

Colin Dudley   -   Stewart White   - Malcolm Lovell   - Sylvia Lunn   - Mr Nobody   - Brenda Wadham   -   Stan Vice   - Peter Akam
Stan Walls   Derek Lunn   - (Jack Johnson -Guest)   - Hugh Martin   -   Phil Dunn