Chorley Photographic Society held its annual awards night at St. Gregory’s Parish Centre. Outside caterers supplied a fantastic buffet.

At last week’s meeting we announced the death of Paddy Boyd (1933–2008) who was one of our newer members. Paddy took up photography recently and joined our society to learn more about his new hobby and join us on our summer photographic outings. When we visited Worden Hall, Leyland in June this year Paddy turned up on his bicycle complete with camera and tripod. Some of you may know that he used to be one of the country’s top racing cyclists and also had good wins at international events. In 1955 he competed in the 2nd Tour of Egypt winning the sixth stage and helped his team to finish 3rd overall. Paddy had many interests and as well as cycling and walking, he’d dabbled with motorbikes and was also a keen fisherman. When one of his angling companions asked him what was his best catch he replied ‘Rose’, which was his wife Rosemary.

Paddy Boyd (1933-2008)

Paddy at the start of his racing career.

Paddy had many friends and many turned out to pay their respects at the Charnock Richard Crematorium on Saturday morning 1 Nov 2008. The service was a celebration of Paddy’s life and wonderful eulogies were provided by fellow cyclist Stan Brittain and his son Peter. So many turned up that there was standing room only in both the chapel and entrance foyer. The car park was full of cars and bicycles, the access drive and a large length of the A49 were full of cars. I attended with councillor Eric Bell who had been at many funerals there and said he’d never seen anything like so many people turn up to pay their respects. Paddy had many friends and will be sadly missed.

There was a very packed session of beginners instruction before the main event. All were very well attended.

Peter Straw.
tabletop photography display.

David Davies.
an illustrated talk on "Basics of Photoshop Elements"

The pre-meeting training session was Ian Aldcroft's master class on portrait lighting. The model didn't turn up so Debbie sat in to help out.

Chorley Photographic Society hosted the opening of a new Dianne Owen exhibition at Astley Hall.
The Creative Consciousness collection explores the visual qualities further and shows how individual images can interact with each other to enhance and heighten the experience of the viewer.

Dianne Owen.

Society members visited Rivington Park Galleries at Spring Cottage, Rivington Lane, Rivington. David and Margaret Ruaux who own the galleries made us very welcome and gave a very informative presentation on the work of the galleries and the many photographic tuition courses they run. It must be one of the best galleries within a few miles of Chorley displaying photographic and art displays.

Gordon Jenkins sits in the 'Sirloin Chair' which originated from Hoghton Tower, Lancashire. It is reputed to be the chair on which King James 1st knighted the loin of beef at Hoghton Tower in 1617. Lady Susannah Brooke of Astley Hall married Sir Henry Philip Hoghton after the death of her husband Thomas Townley Parker.

Mr. Norman Thompson DPAGB LBIPP the President of the Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union

Some of the painted wooden panels in the main hall have been cleaned. They are thought to date from the early 1600s.

Not sure how long these will last in the wind.

Ice houses were buildings used to store ice throughout the year, prior to the invention of the refrigerator. The most common designs involved underground chambers, usually man-made, which were built close to natural sources of winter ice such as freshwater lakes. During the winter, ice and snow would be taken into the ice house and packed with insulation, often straw or sawdust. It would remain frozen for many months, often until the following winter, and could be used as a source of ice during summer months. This could be used simply to cool drinks, or allow ice-cream and sorbet desserts to be prepared.
Thanks to Wikipedia for the text.

Peter Straw shows how to make a table-top lighting setup.