NORTHALLERTON CAMERA CLUB (Published March 2006)
Northallerton Camera Club was formed in 1933 as the 'Northallerton and District Photographic and Cine Society'. Then, it was very much a Gentleman's club. It is to be noted the club rules still require that one of the 3 elected members "....shall be a Lady"
The names of early President's and members will resonate with members today through the club's trophies. For example: Sir Claude Smith-Dodsworth, Col Hall, G W Martin ARPS, H W Milnes, H Neesam, R Robinson, H A Roebuck, H H Salisbury, and Miss R Yoeman.
The club first met in the local Boy Scouts Hall and the Harewood Arms, before moving to its own rooms above Timothy White and Taylors in the High Street, where it remained until 1970. A look at the syllabus's from those early days throws up such interesting lectures as "Dufaycolor Demonstration", "Developing Pans", "Bromoil - Practical Evening" and "Lantern Slides - Postal Club Set".
In 1946, the club changed its name to 'Northallerton Camera Club'. In 1950, it joined the YPU, leaving in 1963 because of the distances involved. It joined the North Yorkshire and South Durham Photographic Association in which it is still active, in 2005 celebrating winning the 'Annual Competitions' trophy. In 1964 at the request of the Civic Trust members photographed "each shop and building on both sides of the whole of the High Street" (now lodged with the County Archivist).
This concept of the club working together on projects led to the creation of a series of slide shows that members show to local organisations. The first "The North Riding Slide Set" was completed in 1971, to be followed in later years by others including the "North Yorkshire" Show, and culminating in "Town and Around" in the Millennium year.
In 1970, the council decided to charge the full commercial rate of £70 for our premises. This was a disturbing time and it is recorded that "Mr H A Roebuck, Secretary, succeeded in obtaining a room for our weekly meetings in the Allertonshire School, with the use of a cupboard to store projector, screen, slides and books. Very much regretted leaving our old rooms and dark room facilities. . . . . Move into our new room Jan 4th 1971. . . . . . Poor attendance, chairs and desks to move; miss our usual rooms, very strange." Until 1995, the club used local schoolrooms but conditions and facilities varied and meetings had to finish at 9.00pm.
During that period, in 1993, we joined the NCPF, a logical move, as a number of clubs we had joint meetings with (Darlington CC, Richmond CC and Stokesley PS) were already members. Since then, the club has taken an active part in NCPF competitions and has had some success, winning the Galloway Rose Bowl and the Annual Club Championship four times each. We have gone on to represent the NCPF at Warwick seven times out of the last eight years, reaching the final six times.
In 1995, the club moved to its present premises, Brompton Methodist Church Hall, where facilities were better, meetings regular and with no time limit. Members provide three free lectures each year to help raise funds for the Church.
In the Millennium season, the club took the unusual step of having every lecture, 13 in all, presented by club members. Members also created the slide show "Town and Around" that sets out to depict the Northallerton area at the turn of the Millennium and as part of that show they re-photographed the High Street. The "Millennium Trophy", awarded for a set of three prints or slides on a subject of the author's choice, was donated to the club by Sheila and Dave Coates.
In 2001 the club acquired its own website which has a comprehensive Gallery, as well as full programme details and up to date news of the club and its members; www.northallertoncameraclub.co.uk.
The club prides itself on its friendly and welcoming atmosphere to photographers of all abilities and disciplines. That, coupled to a programme that has developed an enviable reputation over the years, has ensured a continuing supply of new members. Our membership, drawn from Northallerton and the surrounding towns and villages, has remained around 50 for many years. The current membership of 55 includes 5 holders of the PAGB Masters Award, 4 with Distinction Awards, and 9 with the Credit Award, as well as 4 Associate and 3 Licentiate members of the RPS.
The following, recorded over 30 years ago, sums up much of what is good about the club. "Our mainstay was the activities and quality of our members (and still is) who fill in the programmes with talks of their experiences, travels and photographic work."
Dave Coates
(Our thanks for much of the historical information in this article must go to G W Martin ARPS author of our "History of the Club".)