Photographic Society’s birthday show

This event will be held in the Memorial Hall, High Street, Battle on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th June between 10am and 4pm each day. Entrance is free.

A varied selection of photographic prints produced by many members will be on show in the Main Hall. Light refreshments, tea and coffee will be on sale all day.

In the Shephard Room there will be displays of prints from members who have recently gained Distinctions and external recognition, offering visitors the opportunity to see international and local award-winning photography.

Battle & District Camera Club was formed with just eight local members. The first Chairman was George Seymour of Vicarys Garage; the Vice-Chairman was Ralph West; the Secretary and Newsletter Editor was Ken Clarke, Pharmacist at Boots the Chemist and Malcolm Murray was a prominent Committee member.

Meetings were held in Battle Clubroom in the High Street until the membership increased, necessitating a move to the Shephard Room at the Memorial Hall, where it has remained ever since. Competitions were held for prints, slides, audio visual and cine. Battle Camera Club Cine Group was formed as an offshoot of the main club by Ian Rumley-Dawson and much fun was had enacting film sequences. The club has also taken part successfully in inter-club and external competitions. Group photography outings have been made to many places.

A highlight of the year was the public three-evening “Photorama” slide story shows in the main hall during the 1970s and early 1980s superseded by successful one-evening shows of members’ slide sequences called “A Colour Extravaganza”. Audio Visual Workshops were held regularly to assist members in producing material for these public events.

Print exhibitions have been held annually for many years. Members were kept informed in the pre-digital age by newsletter “Harold’s Eye”, a title which reflected Battle’s history.

The name of the club changed to Battle Camera Club after a few years and in 2014 became Battle Photographic Society. It currently has 44 members.

The new season of lectures, competitions of prints and projected digital images and photo workshops starts with an Open Evening to welcome new members on 7th September. Meetings will be held in the Shephard Room at Battle Memorial Hall on Monday evenings at 7:30pm.

Beginners and experienced photographers are welcome.

More contact details are on the website: www.battlephotographicsociety.co.uk.