Now I have always been fascinated by the stories which sit beside old photographs.
Rarely do you get the full story and more often than not much is left in the shadows.
But not so this picture which is one of the many that are now being revealed for the first time in four decades.
They belong to a huge collection of images that I took in 1978 through into the mid 80s using old fashioned film, smelly chemicals and a dark room.
Most never became prints and for those forty years sat in the cellar as negatives and after the enlarger and chemicals were thrown out remained just negatives.
But now I have one of those clever scanners and the software which do the trick in seconds, and so as you do, I have been playing; selecting strips at random and discovering all sorts.
Many are of London, with a lot more of demonstrations, when a man with a camera was not regarded with suspicion.
And that brings me to the picture.
It will date from 1979 or 1980/81 when some of us seemed constantly to be on a demonstration, be it against cuts in public spending, the rising unemployment figures, or the march of the Far Right peddling their message of racism and intolerance and later the installation of Cruise Missiles in Britain.
This one was Manchester, and it will have been an anti cuts demonstration.
The negative was chosen by chance, but what I was not expecting was that it included a picture of Malcolm selling newspaper.
I first met Malcolm when we were both on the same degree course.
By his own admission he had travelled far, from being a Moral Rearmer in the 1960s to embracing Socialism in the earlier ‘70s.
The journey took him via the Communist Party to the International Socialist Party and by degree into the Labour Party.
We lost touch with each other in the 1980s and only recently did I learn he had died.
Now given that I was born in the first half of the last century losing touch and later learning of the death of friends is becoming commonplace, so I am rather pleased that this image of Malcolm has come to light, leading me to reflect on that friendship which was never dull and more than once filled with a bizarre outcome.
Location; Manchester
Picture; a demonstration; circa 1980, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
But not so this picture which is one of the many that are now being revealed for the first time in four decades.
They belong to a huge collection of images that I took in 1978 through into the mid 80s using old fashioned film, smelly chemicals and a dark room.
Most never became prints and for those forty years sat in the cellar as negatives and after the enlarger and chemicals were thrown out remained just negatives.
But now I have one of those clever scanners and the software which do the trick in seconds, and so as you do, I have been playing; selecting strips at random and discovering all sorts.
Many are of London, with a lot more of demonstrations, when a man with a camera was not regarded with suspicion.
And that brings me to the picture.
It will date from 1979 or 1980/81 when some of us seemed constantly to be on a demonstration, be it against cuts in public spending, the rising unemployment figures, or the march of the Far Right peddling their message of racism and intolerance and later the installation of Cruise Missiles in Britain.
The negative was chosen by chance, but what I was not expecting was that it included a picture of Malcolm selling newspaper.
I first met Malcolm when we were both on the same degree course.
By his own admission he had travelled far, from being a Moral Rearmer in the 1960s to embracing Socialism in the earlier ‘70s.
The journey took him via the Communist Party to the International Socialist Party and by degree into the Labour Party.
We lost touch with each other in the 1980s and only recently did I learn he had died.
Now given that I was born in the first half of the last century losing touch and later learning of the death of friends is becoming commonplace, so I am rather pleased that this image of Malcolm has come to light, leading me to reflect on that friendship which was never dull and more than once filled with a bizarre outcome.
Location; Manchester
Picture; a demonstration; circa 1980, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
Such a character! I won't ever forget him, but it's great to see his face again!
ReplyDeleteThat brings back memories - "The Scouring Pad of the Bourgoise"
ReplyDeleteYou knew Malc too?
DeleteI was at Manchester Poly the same time as you (If I have the right person) and him. Lost contact in the late 70s. Heard of hem tangently through a Councillor called John Byrne when he was in some trouble at school. Likede him alot, but he was a real old Tankie.
DeleteYes ..... so who are you?
DeleteEr, just realised, my name doesn't show. Robin Croskery
DeleteSo Robin the General Arts course?
DeleteSocial Science, Soc Soc, student bar, table football machine. When did Malcolm go?
ReplyDeleteAh the grown up course. I am not sure when Malcolm died. With fewer years ahead of me than behind my social events increasingly revolve around funerals
ReplyDeleteAh well, one of the many who I've lost contact with. Didn't you work at that school in Wythenshaw where two lads were expelled for writing grafitti about the Head? Enjoy reading your stuff about Manchester.
ReplyDeleteWould you mind if I nicked the picture and posted it on FB. I'm still in toucg with one or two from those days and they might remember him.
ReplyDeleteYes Robin Poundswick ...actually 5 kids odd time. Did 35 years there and its successor. Of course you can use the image ... a credit would be nice. You on facebook? Any comments are filtered so nothing goes out on the comments which are private.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. You've stirred some memories. At the time of the Poundswick incident, I was at a party in Hulme and wife number 1 had a right go at Pete Keenlyside (who you may remember). She could be fearsome.
DeleteOh yes remember him well ... nights listening to him at Moss Side CLP meetings ... hours l will never get back
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