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Royal Air Force Photographers Association

1 RAFPA Contacts

Chairman: John Barry, MBE [email protected] 01480 456 763 10 Church Road Brampton, PE28 4PW Membership Secretary Photographers & Web Site Manager: Gerry Linstead Association [email protected] 01366 380143 (Formerly RAFBEPA) 75 Grimshoe Road Downham Market www.rafpa.org.uk PE38 9WF Treasurer: Edition 69 Paul Nile [email protected] Autumn 2017 16 Canberra Close , LN11 8TU DEADLINE Photographic Competition: for contributions for Edition 70 Mick Muddiman must be received by: Details TBA nd Friday 2 March 2018 Merchandise Manager: Thank you Tony Story Details TBA

THE SMALL PRINT – Flashback is published by the Events Coordinator: RAFPA and is for the benefit of paid-up members of Chris Twiner the RAFPA. Accreditation for text, images and logos [email protected] has been given where appropriate, however the RAFPA cannot be held liable for any omissions or 01283 299248 errors. If such omissions or errors are notified to the Editor they will be published in the next available Editor: edition of Flashback. If any person responds to an John Lewis advertisement or commercial supplier named in [email protected] Flashback they must satisfy themselves of the au- thenticity and honesty of any such advertiser or 01263 711 536 trader and the RAFPA cannot be held liable for any 7 Town Close loss, however incurred. Flashback is copyright and Holt, NR25 6JN requests to reproduce text, images or logos must be made to the Editor.

2 From your editors desk

Greetings This edition of Flashback contains details of our recent AGM; should you have any questions regarding the Report or Accounts please address them to Secretary/Gerry or Treasurer/Paul. The following appeared in Air Mail, if you can assist please contact John Fraser.

I have to say that I missed Dave Newham at the Reunion, although even after his passing he has managed to get me on to other tasks! Amongst items from his RAFPA box file were the 2015 Photographic Competition entries, including the nine I submitted, it was nice to have them back, I may re-use them! One print I did like and intend to use as a front cover of Flashback was taken at the Command Memorial in . If it is yours please advise and I’ll give you credit. Also in Dave’s collection was a framed print of 17 Squadron aircrew (all named) taken in September 1964, may have been on Royal Flush, needs a good home. I am pleased to report that our annual Photographic Competition has been saved. Mick Muddiman (Competition winner: 2011, 2013 & 2014) has volunteered to take on the project. He announced that in 2018 it will be an Open Subject Competition but all prints should be in Black & White - another PhotoShop function to master!

3 The subject of Front Cover membership numbers of our Association has come Statue of three Pilots, through up in discussion and raised the ages of the RAF at the Royal at AGMs. Starting in Air Force Museum Cosford January 2018 I’ll be mailing out details of RAFPA via a Poster (see page 6), Flyer (included in this mailing) and a Press Release. I will send the mailing to all RAF Stations, addressed to the Photographic Section, to local newspapers in the areas indicated on the map, plus RBL Branches with their own premises. Any constructive ideas would be appreciated. If you have a location to display posters or flyers, please advise, we need locations with short odds, military themed museums with a high footfall are ideal. If it is really ‘hot spot’ we could arrange a dispenser for flyers if you could refresh regularly. The second good bit of news is that Tony Story has offered to take on the task of Merchandise Manager, but due to other commitments not until mid - 2018. So for the next few months things will be in abeyance, plus that will give him the opportunity to examine what we currently do and realign products and stock. John Barry has all existing stock. Message from Secretary/Gerry - the postage stamps retrieved from Members mail, subs letters etc have been donated to the RAFA Stamp Appeal - many thanks. https://www.rafa.org.uk/blog/2015/12/09/stamp-appeal/

4 Yet again, we must congratulate Chris Twiner and Stan Leeds for organising another excellent association Reunion at Stourport Manor in October. Although smaller in numbers this year, all enjoyed the Friday night gathering for the 'Meet and Greet', with a successful trip to the National Arboretum at Alrewas to view the newly unveiled ‘Photographers Memorial Stone’ and to enjoy the new Visitors Centre the following Saturday morning.

The Reunion Dinner was the social highlight of the weekend with new friends and old acquaintances enjoying good ‘banter’ and the excitement of the now familiar raffle to raise funds for the Association ‘wine cellar’.

Congratulations must also go to our worthy winners of the Jack Eggleston award – Dave Derrick – for his outstanding work over many the years as our Regalia Officer, currently being handled by yours truly until our new volunteer Tony Story can take over in April 2018 when he relinquishes his official post as Mayor of Stamford (well done Tony!) and many thanks for taking over this more onerous task but equally important role for our members.

5 This year our worthy winner of the Joe Oliver Photography award went to Mike Steel – well done Mike, good to see a new name on the trophy. Talking of new names (and one not unfamiliar with the Joe Oliver award), Mick Mudiman has very kindly agreed to organise next year’s Photo Competition – most grateful Mick. He was quick off the mark at the AGM to set the subject matter for 2018 – any subject but images must be in Black and White ….. Now there’s nostalgia for you!

As explained at our AGM I have only ever had two good ideas and I have used them both up! It cannot be that difficult to dream-up a suitably, dynamic A4 poster to attract RAF photogs out of hiding! Lets have your ideas but don’t hang about as we need to get into print in early January. It will give you something to do over Christmas!

6 envoy MAGAZINE

The above is an extract from an article in the Autumn 2017 edition of Envoy magazine, produced by the RAF Families Federation. This and back-copies can be read at: www.raf-ff.org.uk/envoy.asp For those of you that are not digitally enabled, this and future copies can be requested by post, by telephoning: 01780 781 650 Ask to speak to Nick Crouch and mention the RAFPA. It’s a very well produced A4 magazine with lots of interesting articles and for the Scale-Es amongst you some of today's stuff will be truly amazing.

7 The RedIs here! Atlas Nearly thirty years after the end of the ColdWar, its legacy and the accompanying Russian - NATO tension continues to loom large. Russia’s access to detailed information of Europe and the USA may not seem so shocking in this day of data clouds and leaks, but long before we had satellite imagery of any neighbourhood at a finger’s reach, the amount the Soviet government knew about your family’s city, street, and even your home would astonish you.

Revealing how this was possible, The Red Atlas is the never- before-told story of the most comprehensive mapping endeavour in history and the surprising maps that resulted.

From 1950 to 1990, the Soviet Army conducted a global topographic mapping program, creating large-scale maps for much of the world that included a diversity of detail that would have supported a full range of military planning. For major allied city’s the Soviets gathered enough information to create street- level maps.

What they chose to include on these maps can seem obvious like locations of factories and ports, or more surprising, such as building heights, road widths, and bridge capacities. Some of the detail suggests early satellite technology, while other specifics, like detailed depictions of depths and channels around rivers and

8 harbours, could only have been gained by actual Soviet feet on the ground.

The Red Atlas includes over 350 extracts from these incredible Cold War maps, exploring their provenance and cartographic techniques as well as what they can tell us about their makers and the Soviet initiatives that were going on all around us.

A fantastic historical document of an era that sometimes seems less distant, The Red Atlas offers an uncanny view of the world through the eyes of Soviet strategists and spies.

Cloth Bound | 272 pages | 282 colour plates | 7” x 9” ISBN: 9780226389578 List price: £26.50

Or just £21.20 by using Promotion Code: 38957 and purchasing from John Wiley Limited before the end of 2017 Tel: 01243 779 777 - Email: [email protected]

Recently ‘found’ at ex-RAF Coltishall

Were you responsible for losing/hiding it?

Dave Welsh at [email protected] Chairman, Spirit of Coltishall Association would like to hear from you.

9 The winning entry in this years competition was submitted by Mick Steel, a first time winner. I was particularly pleased as when I published a last minute appeal Mick responded by sending a ‘box-full’ of prints - thanks for saving the day.

Mick with Gerry and John with the

The Judging Panel was totally independent of the RAFPA, four ladies who were visiting the hotel for afternoon tea.

10 If you were at the pointy end of the Cold War, 2TAF/RAFG did you feel comfortable as you perambulated to work, safe in the knowledge that the endeavours of the RAF and Allied Forces would hold back the Soviet might. Here are some facts that you were better not knowing!

In July 1945 the Soviets reorganised their military elements in Germany, the Eastern bit of course. They became the Soviet Occupation Forces Germany, an army of occupation and remained so until June 1989 when they declared ‘peace’ and went home.

During most of that time they maintained an army and air force of some 500,000 (yes half a million) personnel, in excess of 6,000 main battle tanks, 8,000 armoured vehicles, 4,000 pieces of artillery, 500 multiple rocket launchers, 200 surface-to-surface missile systems, 1,000 air defence batteries, 200 surface-to-air missile systems, 830 helicopters and 950 fixed wing combat aircraft.

Then of course you had to factor in the East German Army and Air Force, perhaps not with the most modern kit, plus not with the same commitment if they were playing-away but they added 180,000 personnel, 2,500 tanks, 5,500 armoured vehicles, 700 air defence systems (artillery and SAM), 170 helicopters and 540 combat aircraft.

Not quite complete, you should add to these totals 47,000 personnel who with older, slower kit comprised the Border Guard.

This huge array of manpower, kit and aircraft was dispersed over 900 locations, 400 in the GDR including 55 airfields.

11 As I had arrived at Laarbruch from , I had some idea of the vastness of the opposition that surrounded me, as an avid up- side-down reader no visit to speak to an Officer was ever wasted! But of course it all meant nothing to me as I had total confidence in our right and might.

As a singley, during my 36-months at Laarbruch none of this was a trouble to me, a senior Officer had explained to me the confident scenario of WW3, hopefully unnecessary ‘make weights’ like the Stn Photo Sect would have been dispersed long before the first shots were fired in anger plus I was not likely to be much use at the RIC, I had a plan!

I didn’t see travelling back to the UK was viable, as most of the place was potentially toast in the first few hours of an all out conflict, no, I saw myself in Brittany. Getting there was potentially very difficult but the prevailing wind blew in the right direction and the area in general was not likely to be an important target for the Soviets - “Bonjour, pourriez-vous me dire le chemin vers l'abri aérien

During WW2 the Enfield Cycle Company was called upon by the British Government to develop and build motorcycles for specific military roles. One was the WD/CO a 350 cc OHV engined bike and it was used in considerable numbers by the Army and RAF. This example was seen in Sheringham in September 2017 - built like a gun! If you were interested in purchasing one, good examples are available for about £4,500. If you would like a ‘brand new’ now Enfield in drab green it would set you back £5,000 but don’t buy one as an investment!

12 Just when you thought It was safe to go Outside This turns up!

The MQ-25 Stingray is an unmanned carrier based aviation combat system, originally conceived for reconnaissance. Its role has now been extended to provide fleet air-to-air refuelling in support of the F-18 Hornet and later the F-35 Lightning. Carrier launched and recovered, the MQ-25 comes with folding wings and an amazingly low-observeable radar profile. Capable of re-fuelling and being re-fuelled it frees-up considerable carrier man-power and strike aircraft. It is capable of firing missiles or dropping bombs but surveillance and destroying targets will be secondary missions. On a carrier near you soon – that’s USN not RN.

13 WK277 If you were an incumbent at Cosford between 1961 and 1969 you will probably have been familiar with FR.5 serial WK277. In my time it sat just outside the internal door to the hanger outside the old School of Photography. One thing that I realise that was strange, the Swift was a FR – Fighter Reconnaissance, but I never remember any familiarisation or training on aircraft that we were likely to encounter after training!

WK277, one of the only two Swift FR.5s to have been preserved and at best there are possibly only seven airframes still around out of a modest 200 aircraft built. Regretfully, as a fighter the Swift turned out to be less than capable and was relegated to reconnaissance, although allowed to keep its 30-mm ADEN cannons – just in case!

WK277 sat out in the open at the for many years and looked very faded after the long exposure to the elements, in 2005 she was moved under cover and repainted.

The Supermarine Swift has one claim to fame. In September 1953, a Swift F.4 piloted by Commander Mike Lithgow broke the world absolute speed record, reaching 737.7 mph thus, the Swift held the distinction of being the world's fastest aircraft – regretfully only for 8-days!

14 After a protracted development period the Swift entered service as a fighter/interceptor aircraft in 1954. However, due to a number of accidents incurred the fleet were grounded and experienced a relatively brief service life. These issues with the Swift led to a public scandal surrounding the aircraft, harming the reputations of the British government, the RAF and the aircraft industry. Ultimately, the less problematic assumed much of the intended role for the Swift.

A later produced photo reconnaissance variant of the Swift had resolved some of the teething problems that the type had suffered from, but this proved to be too late for it to regain favour.

The FR.5 was single-seat tactical-reconnaissance aircraft, fitted with a lengthened nose to accommodate three cameras (F95s?) and powered by a single Rolls-Royce Avon 114 turbojet engine.

Credits: Leading image: Mark Edwards, Newark Aircraft Museum. This page, top down: Airfix [email protected] Hornby Hobbies / Britmodeller Kev Slade Too - Shepperds Surplus, Leominster

15 Royal Air Force Royal Review 1953 On the 15th of July 1953 at RAF Odiham there was the largest display of that the UK had ever seen. The occasion was the Royal Review of the Royal Air Force by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to celebrate her Coronation.

The Royal Review, to which the public were admitted consisted of a static aircraft park containing over 300 aircraft and a of over 600 aircraft of the RAF and Commonwealth Air Forces.

STATIC DISPLAY Anson x 7 x 6 x 1 RNZAF North American F-86 Sabre x 12 RCAF Canadair Sabre x 4 RCAF English Electric Canberra B2 x 5 English Electric Canberra PR3 x 1 Lockheed Neptune MR1 x 4 Chipmunk T10 x 58 x 9 (oldest air- De Havilland Devon C1 x 2 craft in the review) North American Harvard T2B x 12 T1 x 12 Hanley Page Hastings Mk1 x 1 T1 x 4 Hanley Page Hastings C1 x 2 MR1A x 3 Hanley Page Hastings C2 x 2 Avro Shackleton MR2 x 1 Hanley Page Hastings C4 x 1 HR12 x 1 GR3 x 4 T3 x 4 x 8 DH Vampire T11 x 4 T.7 x 17 Mk3 x 8 Gloster Meteor Mk3 x 4 De Havilland Vampire FB5 x 17 Gloster Meteor Mk7 x 2 RAAF De Havilland Vampire FB9 x 14 Gloster Meteor F.8 x 19 De Havilland Vampire NF10 x 3 Gloster Meteor FR9 x 4 T1 x 5 Gloster Meteor Mk9 x 8 De Havilland Venom FB1 x 4 Gloster Meteor NF11 x 20 Boeing Washington B1 x 4

16 FLYPAST Bristol Sycamore HC1 x 1 Airspeed Oxford 1 x 12 x 21 Avro Lincoln x 45 Avro Shackleton MR1A and MR2 x 18 x 1 (prototype) Boeing Washington x 12 T2 x 12 Canadair Sabre F4 x 24 Canadair Sabre x 36 RCAF DHC Chipmunk T10 x 32 De Havilland Vampire T10 x 12 De Havilland Vampire FB5 x 12 RAAF De Havilland Vampire FB5 x 12 De Havilland Vampire T11 x 1 De Havilland Venom FB1 x 24 English Electric Canberra x 48 Gloster Meteor F4 x 12 Gloster Meteor x 192 (various marks) Gloster Meteor NF11 x 36 x 1 (prototype) Hawker Hunter F1 x 1 Hanley Page Hastings x 3 Hanley Page Victor x 1 (prototype) Lockheed Neptune MR1 x 5 North American Harvard IIB x 12 MR5 x 3 Supermarine Swift F1/F4 x 6 Vickers Varsity T1 x 12 x 1 (prototype)

Visiting Aircraft Tiger Moth Auster AOP 6 Canberra PR3 Canberra PR3 Harvard 2B Hastings C1 Hastings RAFFC Hastings C2 Meteor T7 With thanks to Dave Fagan and his web-site: Spitfire LF16e http://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/nos10.html For the use of the images and text.

17 Officer i/c Joke Recycling - oops sorry Chairman John Barry makes his introductions at dinner.

Dot, Connie, Janet (first drawn ticket) and Pastie manage the raffle, which raised £282 for Association funds - thank you.

Dave Derrick receives the Jack Eggleston Trophy for service to our Association. As he is a three-time winner (2002, 2009 & 2017) can he keep it?

43 RAFPA Members and Guests at dinner

18 Bill, if I had known that you were going to wear the curtains I would have put my sun glasses on!

Chris Pettman receives his commemorative salver, in recognition of winning the Joe Oliver Photographic Award in 2016 - well done.

It was a very sad Reunion for many of us, for a night out without Dave Newham - was not a night out. It is only when someone has gone that it is realised how much they did to support our Association and how they are missed. Pastie has caused the illustrated Trophy to be created, to sit at the top-table at every RAFPA gathering.

19 Peter Garner joined the RAF in 1940 initially serving with the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit flying Hurricanes and later Mosquitos with 605 Squadron. After the war he completed an Empire Test Pilots' Course and, then joined Westlands as assistant to Harald Penrose (Harald Penrose, O.B.E, CEng, F.R.Ae.S, A.M.I.N.A was the chief test pilot at Ltd between 1931 and 1953). Peter Garner was involved with the test flying of the Wy- vern and also had been demonstrating the Westland Sikorsky helicopter. On the 15th October 1947 he was tasked with flying a prototype for a photo shoot over Chesil Bank with a photographer from Flight magazine. The 1948 Probate Register records a Peter John Garner of 68 Westbourne Grove, Yeovil, Somerset who died 15th October 1947 at Bailey Ridge, Leigh near Sherbourne, Dorset. Administration was granted at the Court on the 23rd January 1948 to Suzanne Alice Garner, widow. Effects were valued at £442 1s 5d.

Squadron Leader Peter J.Garner is buried in Sheringham Cemetery, .

Photographic credits: Wyvern over Chesil Bank: Somerset's Skies by Colin Cruddas. Headstone: Flicker

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- with thanks with -

Section of magazine of Section published courtesy of Flight of courtesy published

21 When I visited the Italian Air Force Museum, located at the old seaplane station of Vigna di Valle awhile ago there were two members of the local volunteer group - hard at work on a restoration project. They did have a few words of English, off-set by my total lack of Italian (except for menus and liquid refreshment!), but they explained their project to me. Of the 30,000 or so historic aircraft built in over the past hundred years, little more than 100 have survived intact. To help preserve remaining aircraft, in 1983 eight enthusiasts founded the Friends of Historic Aircraft. Today, with hundreds of members they operate from eight local locations: Rome, Turin, Lombardy, Genoa, Vicenza, Trento and Reggio Emilia. P.artnered by the Italian Air Force, Italian museums, international companies and domestic industries.

The Vigna di Valle section was established in 1994 and since 2007 they have been involved in the restoration of a Romeo Ro.41.

22 The Mayor of Stamford was recently reunited with his old station as he visited the Heritage Centre at RAF Wittering.

These days Councillor Tony Story is the Mayor of Stamford but not so many years ago he was Sergeant Story of Wittering’s Photo Sect. Tony’s military career ended when he retired from RAF Wittering but after 22 years in uniform those days are not easily forgotten.

He said: “I love it! It’s wonderful to be back at RAF Wittering again and you never forget it. It’s very important for me that the people of Stamford understand the RAF in 2017 and what it does for us.”

Squadron Leader Mark Hassall is the Officer in Charge of the Station Heritage Centre: He said: “The Heritage Centre has a significant educational role, but it RAF Wittering photographers also allowed us to show Stamford past and present; Cpl Paul Robertshaw currently serving Town Council and their guests at RAF Wittering and Stamford how the Station has developed Mayor Cllr Tony Story who and what RAF Wittering does on completed his service at RAF a daily basis.” Wittering in 1980

RAF Wittering’s history is recorded in the Station’s Heritage Centre. It is the place where interested groups can learn about the base which has contributed so much to the defence of the

23 over the last 100 years, and continues to make a concrete difference to operations.

Today RAF Wittering embodies two principal roles. The Station’s specialised engineering and logistics squadrons support deployed exercises and air operations, and the flying squadrons train tomorrow’s pilots and introduce cadets and university undergraduates to Left to right: Mick Steel, Tony Story the RAF. and Don Lambert Three of the visiting party were ex-RAF photographers. In addition to Tony, visitors Don Lambert and Mick Steel who had both served in the RAF. Don serving at Wittering while Mick did a tour at North Coates.

Positive relationships with nearby towns and villages is a priority for Defence establishments and RAF Wittering is no exception. Group Captain Tony Keeling is the Commanding Officer at the Station; for him the relationships with the , Stamford and Wittering areas are vital.

The visitors with Group Captain Tony Keeling outside the Officers’ Mess

24 He said: “We are fortunate indeed to have the friendship and loyalty of our nearest communities. People at RAF Wittering know that Stamford’s townsfolk support them and the complex work they do in supporting operations and training the pilots of tomorrow. You can’t put a price the positive effect it has on our fighting spirit and morale.”

With thanks to Tony for forwarding this information and images, plus Ed Palmer, Media & Communication Officer for the Press Release. All images Crown Copyright.

Scampton Airshow

The inaugural Scampton Airshow was held over the weekend 9th/10th September with more than 50,000 people attending the event. In total 104 aircraft took part in the airshow, 41 in the flying display and 63 in the static line-up.

Aerial highlights included a display by a civilian Boeing 727, an oil spill response aircraft which demonstrated its environmental capabilities by dramatically spraying the with water. There was also a special joint flypast by the Reds and an RAF Sentinel. On the Saturday, visitors were treated to display by the BBMF Lancaster which was joined by a Spitfire and Hurricane.

On Sunday, a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the New Hampshire Air National Guard performed a special flypast from its base at Geilenkirchen. The airshow climaxed on both days with a dynamic Typhoon display of 29 Sqn based at nearby

25 RAF . International participation included fast jet displays by a French Alpha Jet and Belgian F-16.

On the ground, visitors could view seldom seen gems provided by Scampton-based Hawker Hunter Aviation including a Sukhoi Su-22M4, a Buccaneer and a former Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom; they were joined by visitors from the Swedish AF Historic Flight. Scampton Airshow 2018 8th & 9th September

Nicosia Airport I only flew out/in of Nic once on my way to Amman via Beirut on an NDT mission from Akrotiri in 1970 with C/T Tony Kirk. Outbound it was a Friday flight (in the !!!) so we spent an enjoyable weekend in Beirut - all expenses paid. I was a ‘sickie’ while in Jordan so after hospital spent a few days staying with the Air Attache, his wife took me sightseeing every day, which with the domestic political situation and the Lady’s aggressive attitude to the Palestinian Fedayeen I thought I was lucky to survive. A return visit earlier this year hinted that the Nic Terminal was not looking so tidy as I remember.

26 The Royal Air Force Photographers Memorial Paviour dedication from Kris Mercer

The Royal Air Force Photographers Paviour was dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum on the 31st August 2017 at 11.20 led by The Reverend (Squadron Leader) Andrew J L Chapman from the RAF Cosford Chaplaincy.

The Royal Air Force Photographers Memorial Paviour was the brain child of Dave Humphrey when he launched an appeal for contributions to an RAF Photographers memorial paviour to be included in the National Memorial Arboretum’s “Heroes Square” project. Within three months, the fund exceeded the target of £3,000 with donations from serving, ex-serving and family members.

The RAF School of Photography badge is engraved onto York stone with a line etching taken from the Royal Air Force School of Photography badge.

It was Dave Humphrey’s dream to see this and he worked tirelessly to make it happen. Sadly, he died before seeing the stone in all its glory, and in position.

I thought it fitting that the dedication service should be held on the 1st anniversary of Dave’s passing, so the task of organising it and financing the event commenced.

27 Everything came together nicely for the day and over 80 former RAF Photographers, serving photographers and their families attended on a wonderful sunny day. One of which was Mr George Webb, the oldest RAF Photographer at 96 years.

Following the dedication, we all retired to the Founders room for Refresh- ments and Cake, more banter and closing addresses by myself (Event organiser) and Mr Mal Price, Treasurer of the RAF Photographers Memorial Fund.

I would like to thank all those that attended the event. Further information on The Royal Air Force Photographers Memorial can be found at the dedicated website:

rafphotographersmemorial.co.uk Images Sgt Paul Oldfield, et al, 31 Aug 2017

28 Olive Edis Mary Olive Edis was born on the 3rd September 1876 in London, the eldest child of Arthur Wellesley Edis, FRCP, an eminent gynaecologist at University College Hospital and Mary (née Murray). In 1880 twin sisters Emmeline and Katherine were born to the Edises. There were no other children. Olive grew up in a comfortable, middle-class environment, was educated privately and the family holidayed in Sheringham in Norfolk. In 1893 when Olive was seventeen her father died and she was left with a need to earn her own living.

She turned her photographic hobby into a business and in 1900s she had established herself as a professional portrait photographer in London. In 1905 she and her younger sister, Katherine opened another studio at 39 Church Street in Sheringham, a growing and select seaside resort in Norfolk.

In 1928 she married Edwin Galsworthy (cousin of John the novelist and playwright) when she was 52, by which time she was an accomplished and famous photographer.

In London Olive photographed the famous and powerful, her sitters included; King Edward,

29 Prince Edward, David Lloyd George, Emmeline Pankhurst, James Balfour, George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Hardy, General Booth and Lady Astor. The London studio financed her Sheringham home and studio, where she photographed local characters and friends.

In 1907 Olive and Edwin moved to Sheringham, by which time Katherine had married and left the business.

In 1919 she successfully applied to the War Office for permission visit the Western Front and although fighting had effectively finished she was able to visit locations that were still deemed at risk, her main interest was to document the role that women had and were contributing to the war effort.

Starting in 1912 Olive pioneered colour autochrome portraits - large format colour glass transparencies and patented her own autochrome viewer, supplied with every portrait, a modest device which allowed you to view your images in natural light. It was accepted that Olive’s photographic skills were supplemented by an understanding of marketing as she also

30 designed her own logo. Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in 1914, she was a remarkable woman of her era.

Olive died in December 1955, aged 79 and her ashes were interred with her husband in Sheringham Cemetery.

Olive Edis - Marketing I don’t know what made Olive’s AutoChrome Viewer patentable as similar items had been about for many years. Perhaps it was the simplicity - made of cardboard which folded flat with a mirror in the base. The ‘Edis’ logo

A later offering from Ilford

Images: Page 29, Olive in Sheringham plus with her sisters. Page 30, images from the Western Front. Page 31, Prince of Wales, George Bernard Shaw, Lloyd George and Emmeline Pankhurst

With gratitude to the for the publication of photographs, where credited and The Curator, Cromer Museum, Norfolk Museums Service plus the National Portrait Gallery.

31 2018 Reunion & AGM 12th - 13th - 14th October

As a result of a communication from the BRIXMIS Association I am advised that SAC Nigel Green has recently died. He was a Photographer in the ‘Special Section’ 1963 to 1965.

It’s Eyes Left at the Cenotaph For Gerry Linstead (centre) and Steve Mullis (3rd from left, row in front of Gerry) in London on Sunday 12th November. Marching with the RAF Association.

Alan Eatwell - Joined as an APO in 1972 and had postings to Conningsby, PRU HQ RAF(G) and Coltishall, In 1977 he competed his ACF course and was then posted to JSOP, and Brawdy. Leaving TG14 for TG15 Pharm Tech he stayed in the RAF until 1993.

Keith Rushton - Signed on the dotted line in 1967 at Swinderby, basic training was followed by a photo (16) course at Cosford and postings to Wyton, Binbrook, Thorney Island, Coningsby, Muharaq and Church Fenton.

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September 2017 September

th RAFPA balance as 30 as balance RAFPA

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