Saturday 29 August 2015

Take Off!

The Devil has all the best tunes, and the wildest gales, as the vicar of Painswick found out. He was trying to retain his dignity during the annual Clipping the Church ceremony in 2002. From, "Being English"

Teddy Boys

These Teddy Boys, and their girls, posed for me in 1973 outside their home-from-home, the Black Raven pub in Bishopsgate. The boy on the right is sharp, which suggests that I manged to hold the camera steady and that the rest of the gang were swaying, after a merry evening of drinking and rock'n'roll. From, "Being English"

Friday 21 August 2015

Carnival!

Just one week till the Notting Hill Carnival, the biggest Caribbean celebration of music and dance in Europe. This picture was made two years ago on a street I used to live on. Twiggy lived a few houses away, with her boyfriend always outside trying to get his Lamborghini to start. From, "Being English"

God Bless the Queens!

1977 in Fulham, West London, and these four "girls" were celebrating at a street party for the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Let's hope she WOULD have been amused!  Though here suggesting a second meaning, Flash was a popular washing powder at the time. From, 'Being English"

Friday 14 August 2015

Victoriana

Kirkby Lonsdale, Lake District, in 2002 and the town's whole community has dressed up to celebrate their Victorian Weekend. They're not visible but rose tinted spectacles were also worn by all, as they re-lived a bygone age that was never quite as blissful as this. From, "Being English"

My Mona Lisa

I made this picture 40 years ago in Hyde Park at the Miss Selfridges Parade. There was a magic in this woman's face that seemed to perfectly complement her period outfit, as though she'd cycled in from another age to join us for the day. A brief encounter that I still treasure. From, "Being English"