On 19^th November, we were privileged to see the wonderful work of the late Thomas Beaumont, a 91-years old natural history photographer of Hebden Bridge Camera Club who died in 2003. This was shown to us posthumously in an audio-visual presentation by his widow, Margaret and their long-time friend and respected colleague, Michael Newton (a regular judge of our competitions.)

They had put together about 320 slides, just a fraction of his life’s output, despite the fact that Tommy had come to photography late in life, joining the camera club in the late 1960’s. Margaret talked us through each slide with Michael’s script and a variety of music to suit Tommy’s catholic taste and each creature’s ‘personality’ be it bird, animal or creepy-crawly!

From chattering swallows, the diminutive wren, owls, goldfinches and woodpeckers to hedgehogs, frogs, caterpillars and the beautiful butterflies they became, Tommy took in Scotland with a view of the Cuillin Hills from Elgol and Rannoch Moor with oyster-catchers, curlews, guillemots,

and the clownish puffin.

Autumn came in on the back of pan pipes and also Elgar’s music motivated us (especially in pictures of our Valley Gardens where Elgar was once reputed to have walked!) and Mahler’s 4^th Symphony (as used in ‘Death in Venice’) drew this deeply moving programme to its fitting end.

President, Marion Frith, in her vote of thanks, warmly congratulated them on their patience and knowledge, not just that of Thomas Beaumont, whose portrait was shown to us in the closing

but of their flawless presentation, with information fed to us seamlessly in one of the most enjoyable natural history programmes she has ever seen!

Kay Aldcroft LRPS

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