Basingstoke Camera Club Newsletter Nov/Dec 05

How this year has flown, I cannot believe that Christmas is just around the corner and we are already half way through our club season.  It seems that it has been a busy one for most of our members and some brilliant images have already been shown.

Congratulations to both Mike & Ute, Mike for being awarded the Hood Medal and Ute for achieving her LRPS.

 As Brian & I will shortly be leaving for Zimbabwe for 3 whole weeks and although it is somewhat early, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New year. We look forward to catching up in the New Year. 

Enjoy!!!!

 Tracy May

ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ANNUAL AWARDS

2005

 Hood Medal

 The Hood Medal was instituted in 1933 'when Mr Harold Hood FRPS offered to present annually a medal for meritorious performance in some branch of photography, with particular emphasis on any exhibit which revealed the most outstanding advance in photography for public service'.  Previous recipients include Jacques Cousteau, Lord Snowdon, and Richard Attenborough.

 This year the recipient is Mike Birbeck FRPS. His citation reads as follows:

 “Mike Birbeck has a passion for photography and a great affinity for those with a disability, as evidenced by his study of disabled school children which gained him his FRPS. Disabled from the RAF some 20 years ago, and confined to a wheelchair, Mike chaired the Disabled Photographers’ Society for 10 years, during which time the membership trebled. He is now President of that Society.

 Equally important as his leadership is his technical input, using his knowledge and skills as an engineer to design adaptations which allow cameras to be used by people with a wide range of disabilities and ages.”

 Among the other RPS award recipients this year were the iconic photographer David Bailey and well known film animator Nick Park. The award ceremony was held at the Royal Institute, London on 6 October 2005.