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So thanks to the ladies who helped with the organisation, food etc, Alan Verity (Chairman) and Anthony, and more names I'm sure, but in truth I don't know them all.

 

This leads me to the previous Mechanics' previous Social held at Easter where I met a lovely lady called Ann. We spent some time talking and I was interested  to hear that she she was originally from  from County Kerry, not suprised however, as she had a look of an Irishwoman, tall and with fair hair, and a proud bearing, a sure sign of a lady from that part of the world. Well of course we had lots to talk about re the old country and I spent a pleasant hour talking to this most fascinating lady . So here I am sitting by the buffet table this Saturday, and along comes Ann. We exchanged pleasantries and I noticed that she was carrying a small booklet. Actually I really picked up on the name at the back of the booklet, the name was ERRIK'S. To anyone in the know of Photographic Retailers within Bradford city, this was a well established company just over the road in Northgate from the company I worked at, namely Bradford Camera Exchange. But what was in this booklet?

 

Ann and I spoke for some time and I introduced her to my wife, mentioning that Elaine was an old Grange Grammar school girl. By coincidence, it happens that Ann was also, teaching French there in the 60s. Memories of  Ann's colleagues' names were thrown into the arena, as both ladies cast their minds back to a different era.    I then bumped into another lady I previously knew through work, Jackie, who turned out also to be a former pupil of Grange. With Margaret coming over to have a chat, also an old Grange girl, the Mechanics' Social was starting to take on the look of a Grange Girls' Grammar School reunion!

 

This gallery feature some classic equipment of 1972/73, I was by this time working for Dixons, prior to me moving to Bradford Camera Exchange in 1975, just two years married, in an industry I loved and handling the finest photographic equipment around. I considered myself a most fortunate human being. Now, looking back at this era and the memories that go along with it, I feel equally lucky in that I'm here during the Photographic digital revolotution, and I can use this to good effect to drive forward the website BradfordEye, for as eggs are eggs there's no way this would be possible without the giant leap in global communication that is internet, and the photographic manufacturers who strive to advance the technology to make this, the most exciting to time to be involved in the world's greatest hobby, interest, profession, whatever title you wish to use.

 

The only downside for me is the realization  that so many  friends and customers are not around to witness this great era. But I still remember them, their names occupations even where they lived. Booklet's such as this do transport me back and rekindle good memories along with sad ones but I still think they're worth viewing, whatever's new that's come along to replace equipment from our not so distant past.

 

Oh, and thanks Ann, not only for passing this Photographic nostalgic treasure on to me, but for remembering to think of me when you came across it. You really are a class lady!