PART 4
Growing up, I received instructions directly from my parents, and grandparents, as senior guardians. Respect for yourself and others, was considered to be a mark of a person, from a decent home and background.
Additional advice came from uncles, aunts, and respected elders in our circle of family, and close friends. Look, Listen, and Learn, was a popular unspoken motto among my peer-group of relatives.
“Manners make the man, not money.” “To be a man, you must become responsible for yourself, and everyone else you are responsible for. You must be self-sufficient, and hard working. Find a trade, or long lasting profession.” These were values to guide us in life, wherever you are in the world.
1970s
Leaving Secondary School, I was recruited as an Electronic Engineer Apprentice. Through the Reliance Telephone company in Holborn, London. As part of the training scheme, I attended North London College.
Soon after, I was in the field working, with a training officer in a variety of areas. An example, installing fire alarms in a hospital, located in St. Albans.
Completing my Apprenticeship, I moved employment to the General Post Office – Telecommunications, as an Electronic Technician. I was Installing telecommunication systems in buildings, for corporate companies in the City of London. I began with a team based in the Daily Mirror newspaper buildings.
Considered too young at 20, with the blessings and confidence of my direct line-manager, I was quickly promoted to a Technician 2A. In charge of all telecommunication Installations at the Bank of America, in the heart of London City.Volunteering to attend the regular short specialised courses, at the GPO Education Centre in Kew Gardens, Chiswick. I was given a new name, by the team based at Dominant House – the ‘Whizz Kid – Pretty Boy Floyd.
Apart from updating skills, and increasing knowledge, another reason why I always happily volunteer, to attend the GPO Tele Training Centre in Chiswick.
Kew Gardens Botanical Gardens were there, a short walking distance away. Whilst I was there, it became the place to lunch, everyday.
A beautiful environment, free of charge. I learnt all about the life of plants. I witnessed a Venus flytrap, catching and eating insects. A tiny fern stem, grand opening, slowly unfolding to become a huge bushy leaf. It seems to be giving birth. Fascinating at the time.
From then, Horticulture and gardening remain a form of addiction, to be carefully managed. In middle aged, my partner complained often, I spent more time in garden work, than with her.
Mother & Child
In late 1978, the news arrived about the changing structures of GPO telecommunications – to become BT. Introducing new rules, regulations, restricted work practices, and the secrecy act. I was one of many, who planned to resign before the final change over date.
Photo-Art Practice
Full of discipline, I never use my camera at work. Photography was reserved for another time, in a different world. I practiced outside the time of paid work, weekends, and holiday seasons. I would be dressed in a particular manner. The body of a Leica M series, in one trouser pocket. A standard 50mm lens in another. On occasions, the 50mm was exchanged for a 35mm lens. Two rolls of Black & White films in both breast pockets. Hands free and mobile, very few people knew how. or what I was doing.
Youth Cultures & Music
Photo-Reportage & Documentation
I viewed and approached it all as Visual Communication – Visual Arts. I worked with music recording companies. Supplied entertainment magazines, like City Limits, Timeout, Black Echoes. With images of rising stars in the world of music.
I also worked with Arts & Culture organisations, Theatre groups, and Progressive Entrepreneurs.
Generally, I also completed commissions for anyone interested in my work. For the African Caribbean communities in London, I photographed wedding celebrations, birthday parties, christening, and other events.
I processed my photographic-films, and printed on paper at Camera Work in East London, Photo-Fusion in West London, and Sir John Cass Art School in Whitechapel. I purchased films, chemicals, and paper from specialised shops in Isle of Dogs, Clerkenwell area, and Roseberry avenue in Islington, London. A place where I began a project, during the early days of my photographic hobby, to document the Architecture of North & East London.
Exhibitions
After the success of the ‘Open Exhibition @ Whitechapel Art Gallery, I started showing work in a number of venues. I began working on a number of projects with Drum Arts – located at the African Centre, in Covent Garden, London.
Cultural & Social
Drum Arts, organised two major exhibitions. One at the National Theatre, Southbank, and the at Roxy Music Club, Covent Garden, London. The place where resident Dj Don Letts, began promoting Reggae, to an audience of Punk Rockers.
During the 1970s, I was described as a person driven by desire, and passions to the point of obsession. Making images that communicates, is much more than a vocation for life. Photo-Arts remained a deep Love in Living – within the Joys of Looking. This motto will suffice as a brief intro, into the mantra of my enduring practice: One Excellent Image, is Worth More than a Thousand Words!