Keswick Lad

Back in the distant days of the early 1980′s Britain was in economic meltdown.  Over 3 million people were unemployed and I was one of them.  Maggie Thatcher was in charge and we were heading towards the Miners strike.  Thinking about it, the country is in a similar state today but I am definitely not and there is one main reason for that – a man called Paul Delmar.

I first met Paul at Richmond College in Sheffield in September 1982.  He was going to teach me to be a press photographer.  I had already dropped out of one college course but nine months of doing the ‘full monty’ dole office queue scene had given me the determination and drive to make sure there were no more mistakes.  This was my big chance and fate had dealt me the perfect hand with Paul Delmar.

Paul was the most enthusiastic person I had ever met.  His passion for photography was unbelievable, he was driven by trying to be the best press photographer and beating every other photographer every day – I was hooked.

He was the most amazing teacher because he never actually told you anything.  He just wound you up and sent you out to discover things for yourself.  But he also filled you with the desire to succeed and to be the best – even against a classroom of 13 friends.  It was always ‘dog eat dog’ with Paul and that also appealed to me.

Over the years I have tried to keep in touch and I have seen the same enthusiasm inspire hundreds of great photographers.  His courses must have taught over 1000 photographers.  From that about 95% have found jobs in the industry – it must be one of the most successful courses in the world.  He has taught people who are now picture editors, national newspaper staff photographers, British Press Awards winners and he picked up a few awards himself along the way.

In recent years changes to government education funding has caused problems for the course.  The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) has not been able to secure a status for the course which would provide the required funding.  It is a national disgrace that this course cannot be funded – particularly when you consider the success rate and some of the more ridiculous alternative courses available today.  This is the only specialist course for press photographers in Britain – it is not another media studies course.

Earlier this year Paul agreed to take redundancy in an attempt to cut the cost of running the course.  It was decided that the course could no longer justify a full-time tutor.

When Paul announced that he was leaving the rumour mill fired into action.  Various websites and trade press ran stories saying that Paul was retiring and that the course was closing.  The NCTJ stood back and watched as the rumours almost killed the course, they refused to issue any statements and just passed everything on to the Sheffield College.  Why the NCTJ are not fighting to save this course is a mystery.  The media industry has never been more visual than it is today but the NCTJ does not appear to want to run a press photography course in 2010-11.

Paul and his family have given everything to press photography.  They have all lived for his desire to produce the next batch of great photographers.  The newspaper industry owes a great deal to Paul Delmar and his family.  It would have been nice if he could have walked away from the college knowing that his course was safe, but that has not been the case.  It has still not been decided if the course will run even though students have been interviewed in the past few weeks.

On Friday 30th July Paul leaves Sheffield College.  No events have been planned to mark the event, but  I will be popping along to buy him a drink or two and thank him on behalf of every photographer who attended his courses.  Paul Delmar will always be a legend and I wish him well with his future projects and thank him for rescuing me from that dole queue.

Cheers Beers Mr Delmar !!!

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I was born in the Lake District town of Keswick.  My family live there and it will always be my home.  The Cumbrian town has always been a magnet for retired people and consequently it has a population with more elderly people than your average place in England.

As a trainee photographer on my local evening paper I used to pop into the old people’s home  (sorry, residential care home) to do various jobs.  Ravensfield was that place.  A sanctuary where you could live out the last few years of your life with some company and some dignity.  The staff were friendly and helpful and all the residents seemed very happy.

Last December Keswick was hit by severe flooding, it was not quite as bad as the nearby towns of Cockermouth and Workington but it did suffer.

Ravensfield was built near to the river but because of the flooding risk it was raised well above ground level.  People were aware of a flood risk all those years ago.  Keswick has flooded for as long as I can remember and I can tell you exactly which parts of the town will flood, it is nothing new.

During the December floods Ravensfield was evacuated, but the building never actually flooded.  The car park did but the building itself stayed dry.  The residents were dispersed to other care homes around the county, some as far as 30-40 miles away.

Over the years flood defences have been built to hold back the River Greta on High Hill.  In the past they even put sand bags on top of the walls for added protection.

But now Cumbria County Council have decided that Ravensfield must close.  It is under too much risk from future flooding !

So a building that did not flood during the worst storm Cumbria has seen for 200 years is now at risk.  They claim that the flood defences are unsafe.  Why don’t they fix them ?  Could it just be an easy way to shut Ravensfield and save some money ?   Or, do Cumbria County Council know something we don’t know ?  Should we all be building our arks ?  Is Keswick about to be washed away ?

Ravensfield could be kept open for less money than our wonderful MPs pick up in expenses on their second homes.  They all have two places to live, why not let the elderly people of Keswick have one home ?  They need a place in their own town, living with people they know and where relatives can easily visit.

BBC North East & Cumbria have now covered this story (9th Feb).  To watch the video click here.