CCC History: A New Millennium - 2000 to 2006
by Paul Bradley
by Paul Bradley
(© Paul Bradley) Committee for the new millennium l-r David Brockwell, Roy Vincent, David Angell (Vice Chairman), Paul Bradley (Chairman), Lesley Laughton (Secretary), Graham Laughton (Treasurer), Mike Porter
With a new Chairman in place and a new Millennium approaching, minds were concentrated on how to stop the decline in membership and promote the Club especially with younger members. An early initiative was to kick start the Calendar offering for 2000. The final product had two images per month - a traditional local view supplemented with a “photographers picture”. On the plus side the Calendar sold out by November 1999. 2000 was of course a good year for Calendars and we were still getting enquiries the following February, but the new pictures seemed to confuse some of our customers. For example a lady from Rickmansworth wanted to know the relevance of the association between the canal at Rickmansworth and a plate of Smarties!
The scoring for set subject slide competitions were reviewed that year and guidance has been given to judges ever since to split scores between subject compliance and photographic merit.
2000 also saw the return after a number of years of the Club outing. A very enjoyable coach trip to Leeds Castle included a photo hunt which was judged as the opener for the new season programme.
The scoring for set subject slide competitions were reviewed that year and guidance has been given to judges ever since to split scores between subject compliance and photographic merit.
2000 also saw the return after a number of years of the Club outing. A very enjoyable coach trip to Leeds Castle included a photo hunt which was judged as the opener for the new season programme.
(© Graham Stannett) 40th Anniversary Club photo at St Oswalds Hall
Back l-r : Geoff Hermon, David Angell, Ron Jones, Sarah Bradley, Ken Owen, ?, David Brockwell, Sue Mclachlan,
3rd Row : David Jones, ?,Paul King, Stan Seare, Norma Bradley, John Rowe, Marjorie Rowe, Mrs Collins
2nd: ?,Liz Philpott, Shiela Edwards, Bert Woodward, Dudley Sheeaf, Mike Collins, Christine Brockwell, Brian Hale, Melanie Grant, Colin Grant.
Front : John Philpott, Mike Porter, Graham Stannett, Graham Laughton, Lesley Laughton, Paul Bradley, Kath Howard, ?, Roy Vincent,
3rd Row : David Jones, ?,Paul King, Stan Seare, Norma Bradley, John Rowe, Marjorie Rowe, Mrs Collins
2nd: ?,Liz Philpott, Shiela Edwards, Bert Woodward, Dudley Sheeaf, Mike Collins, Christine Brockwell, Brian Hale, Melanie Grant, Colin Grant.
Front : John Philpott, Mike Porter, Graham Stannett, Graham Laughton, Lesley Laughton, Paul Bradley, Kath Howard, ?, Roy Vincent,
The Ladies Wrights Cup had been a separate Club competition and the reader may recall not without a degree of controversy. Dwindling entries now saw it subsumed into a specific Open Competition which enabled its continuation whilst releasing a Club date for a wider involvement. The Corbishley Shield also changed with the times, as entries were extended to include digital processing. Another regular event started that Christmas with the Ladies versus Gents Mix and Match the appetiser for the Members Social Evening. The ever popular Stan McCartin was the judge with the unenviable task of judging with one eye on his getaway car warmed up outside.
Entry to the Annual Show was now £2 including a prize programme draw. A door raffle was still held as well but with prizes now donated by members. Although the Chairman’s son seemed a regular winner, these donations have had a sizable and crucial impact to revenue for the Club.
Season 2000/ 2001 was the 40th Anniversary of Croxley Camera Club. There wasn’t a celebration meal but all members received a commemorative biro! Past Presidents were invited to the Christmas meeting when a suitable photograph was taken.
After the success of the Millennium edition, a Calendar was produced for 2001 but only after some serious debate in Committee and subsequently at the AGM. The title was changed to “Local Scenes” to broaden its appeal. Of particular note that year was the Clubs investment in a radio microphone. This has proved a worthy purchase ever since not only amplifying an important comment, score or presentation but also picks up any coughing or the reassuring heartbeat of the speaker.
2001 also saw the Club return to the Croxley Revels and a successful coach outing organised by David Brockwell to Amberley Chalk Pits Museum in Sussex and then on to Littlehampton for an excellent fish and chip supper. David was in the news again when he had two acceptances to the Chiltern 100 Print Exhibition.
The 2001 calendar didn’t quite sell out but it was successful enough for the Club to persevere for 2002. Club set subjects were again specifically chosen to generate some new calendar images. The Club also introduced a Small Prints competition for commercially produced prints. This was a success and continues to this day but with an additional digital sub division.
The Studio Group continued at the Methodist Hall using models supplied by an acquaintance of David Brockwell on the basis that copies of the images were passed to the agency. Unfortunately this arrangement was not consistently followed by members and the agency eventually pulled out. This withdrawal was a big factor in the folding of the Studio Group.
The 2001 AGM noted Digital as an emerging medium. On the organisation front Lesley Laughton stood down as Minutes Secretary and David Angell as Vice Chairman after many years. It was also reported that the Club had been added to the Hertfordshire County Council Library database.
Entry to the Annual Show was now £2 including a prize programme draw. A door raffle was still held as well but with prizes now donated by members. Although the Chairman’s son seemed a regular winner, these donations have had a sizable and crucial impact to revenue for the Club.
Season 2000/ 2001 was the 40th Anniversary of Croxley Camera Club. There wasn’t a celebration meal but all members received a commemorative biro! Past Presidents were invited to the Christmas meeting when a suitable photograph was taken.
After the success of the Millennium edition, a Calendar was produced for 2001 but only after some serious debate in Committee and subsequently at the AGM. The title was changed to “Local Scenes” to broaden its appeal. Of particular note that year was the Clubs investment in a radio microphone. This has proved a worthy purchase ever since not only amplifying an important comment, score or presentation but also picks up any coughing or the reassuring heartbeat of the speaker.
2001 also saw the Club return to the Croxley Revels and a successful coach outing organised by David Brockwell to Amberley Chalk Pits Museum in Sussex and then on to Littlehampton for an excellent fish and chip supper. David was in the news again when he had two acceptances to the Chiltern 100 Print Exhibition.
The 2001 calendar didn’t quite sell out but it was successful enough for the Club to persevere for 2002. Club set subjects were again specifically chosen to generate some new calendar images. The Club also introduced a Small Prints competition for commercially produced prints. This was a success and continues to this day but with an additional digital sub division.
The Studio Group continued at the Methodist Hall using models supplied by an acquaintance of David Brockwell on the basis that copies of the images were passed to the agency. Unfortunately this arrangement was not consistently followed by members and the agency eventually pulled out. This withdrawal was a big factor in the folding of the Studio Group.
The 2001 AGM noted Digital as an emerging medium. On the organisation front Lesley Laughton stood down as Minutes Secretary and David Angell as Vice Chairman after many years. It was also reported that the Club had been added to the Hertfordshire County Council Library database.
(© Paul Bradley) David Angell still needs to refer to the instruction book at a Studio Evening in the Methodist Hall on New Road
2002 saw the inclusion of another stereo evening. The Club must have been a surreal sight as all those present had to wear white card glasses with blue / red lenses to get the full benefit of the medium. Duly inspired the Club purchased some glasses and a “How to do…...” book as well as rebooking the speaker for future years. On a more sedate tone the outing went for a tour of the Cotswolds including Bourton on the Water – a place visited before by the Club in the 1960s.
2003 saw an unwanted first for the Club when a judge was cancelled for a slide competition due to a paucity of entries. In addition the Studio Group stopped meeting. The absence of models was a factor but the main reason was the loss of Club stalwarts Roy Vincent and the Brockwells who escaped to the rarified air of Yorkshire. The Club also lost long standing member and Vice Chairman David Angell who exchanged the leafy sward of Ricky for more salty climes in Dorset. The Club did manage to support the Print exhibition though in the Harlequin Centre during July
Despite the Club outing to Hever Castle, 2003 was a bit of a low ebb and things didn’t improve with the Annual Show with a disappointing attendance of only 79. However a profit was still recorded and also from that years calendar despite it failing to sell out. Croxley Camera Club now appeared on the Croxley Green web site as well but membership still stood at only 32.
2004 saw little improvement in fortunes with slide entries in particular suffering as membership fell to 25. However Graham Laughton won “best slide” at the Park Street Landscape competition and we came second to Harrow in a round of the Rosebowl scoring three “20s” and a “20 star” in the process. The planned outing to Chatham Docks was cancelled due to lack of numbers. 2004 also saw the Club publish what turned out to be its last Calendar to date. A special reduced rate saw about 60 of the 2005 issue sold at the Revels but even a reduced total print run did not sell out. The Club made a small profit but thoughts were shifting to another form of fund raising.
2004 was also not without a degree of controversy. Firstly some of the small prints entered into competitions were apparently not small enough. The issue was solved by a Rule change and the purchase of a Club tape measure. Whilst in an argumentative mood, we hosted a Rosebowl Round when a late substitution of a slide by one of our visitors prompted debate and subsequent representation to the CACC – again a Rule change (this time CACC) resulted. Our numbers might be dwindling but a fighting spirit lived on.
2005 membership of 27 reflected a stabilisation of numbers but hid the considerable effort to recruit new members just to replace those that had left. Despite initiatives at the Revels which seemed to generate interest on the day, this was not converted into new faces come September - despite the initiative of holding a specific Members Welcome Evening on the first night. On 18 May the Club well and truly entered the electronic age when digital practitioner extraordinaire, Gordon Charlton launched the Croxley Camera Club Blog site. This allowed Club events, news and even images to be displayed on the internet.
In June members travelled by car for a visit to Kew Gardens. This proved a lovely day for photography (until mid afternoon anyway!) and coincided with the very impressive Chihuly Glass exhibition throughout the grounds. Plenty of scope for photographers especially as the maximum entry for slide competitions had now risen from four to five (only top three still scoring).
The AGM saw only the Chairman's casting vote resulting in support of the next Revels and there was another debate on the future of the calendar. A lot of effort by a few members was still going into the calendar, but the margin on sales was now down to 40p per issue. Put into context of risk, the Club was funding the project up front to the tune of about 50% of its total resources. Sales were still covering this cost and a profit was being made but it did not reach the levels of earlier years.
2003 saw an unwanted first for the Club when a judge was cancelled for a slide competition due to a paucity of entries. In addition the Studio Group stopped meeting. The absence of models was a factor but the main reason was the loss of Club stalwarts Roy Vincent and the Brockwells who escaped to the rarified air of Yorkshire. The Club also lost long standing member and Vice Chairman David Angell who exchanged the leafy sward of Ricky for more salty climes in Dorset. The Club did manage to support the Print exhibition though in the Harlequin Centre during July
Despite the Club outing to Hever Castle, 2003 was a bit of a low ebb and things didn’t improve with the Annual Show with a disappointing attendance of only 79. However a profit was still recorded and also from that years calendar despite it failing to sell out. Croxley Camera Club now appeared on the Croxley Green web site as well but membership still stood at only 32.
2004 saw little improvement in fortunes with slide entries in particular suffering as membership fell to 25. However Graham Laughton won “best slide” at the Park Street Landscape competition and we came second to Harrow in a round of the Rosebowl scoring three “20s” and a “20 star” in the process. The planned outing to Chatham Docks was cancelled due to lack of numbers. 2004 also saw the Club publish what turned out to be its last Calendar to date. A special reduced rate saw about 60 of the 2005 issue sold at the Revels but even a reduced total print run did not sell out. The Club made a small profit but thoughts were shifting to another form of fund raising.
2004 was also not without a degree of controversy. Firstly some of the small prints entered into competitions were apparently not small enough. The issue was solved by a Rule change and the purchase of a Club tape measure. Whilst in an argumentative mood, we hosted a Rosebowl Round when a late substitution of a slide by one of our visitors prompted debate and subsequent representation to the CACC – again a Rule change (this time CACC) resulted. Our numbers might be dwindling but a fighting spirit lived on.
2005 membership of 27 reflected a stabilisation of numbers but hid the considerable effort to recruit new members just to replace those that had left. Despite initiatives at the Revels which seemed to generate interest on the day, this was not converted into new faces come September - despite the initiative of holding a specific Members Welcome Evening on the first night. On 18 May the Club well and truly entered the electronic age when digital practitioner extraordinaire, Gordon Charlton launched the Croxley Camera Club Blog site. This allowed Club events, news and even images to be displayed on the internet.
In June members travelled by car for a visit to Kew Gardens. This proved a lovely day for photography (until mid afternoon anyway!) and coincided with the very impressive Chihuly Glass exhibition throughout the grounds. Plenty of scope for photographers especially as the maximum entry for slide competitions had now risen from four to five (only top three still scoring).
The AGM saw only the Chairman's casting vote resulting in support of the next Revels and there was another debate on the future of the calendar. A lot of effort by a few members was still going into the calendar, but the margin on sales was now down to 40p per issue. Put into context of risk, the Club was funding the project up front to the tune of about 50% of its total resources. Sales were still covering this cost and a profit was being made but it did not reach the levels of earlier years.
(© Norma Bradley) Cover of the 2005 and last Club Calendar
The steady decline in calendar sales was also a concern and as a result a decision was ratified at the AGM that despite availability of images there would be no calendar in 2006. This decision was not taken lightly and the Club needed to urgently consider alternative, lower risk methods of generating funds. Some minor tinkering was done to reduce costs with increases in membership fees, the number of meetings were reduced by two to save on hall hire and inevitably the cost of a cup of tea went up to 30p!
After much deliberation and discussion the Club chose to produce a DVD of local scenes and events. This project was low cost and therefore low risk, with a reasonable return and without the problem of seasonality. The brainchild of the Chairman Paul Bradley, but developed by the DVD Group led by Barbara Clifford. This gestated over a number of months and was formally launched at the Annual Show in March 2007. Through the Chairman, the Club was also involved with local journalist John Pilgrim and his research into his book “Out and About in Croxley Green” due to be published in 2007.
After much deliberation and discussion the Club chose to produce a DVD of local scenes and events. This project was low cost and therefore low risk, with a reasonable return and without the problem of seasonality. The brainchild of the Chairman Paul Bradley, but developed by the DVD Group led by Barbara Clifford. This gestated over a number of months and was formally launched at the Annual Show in March 2007. Through the Chairman, the Club was also involved with local journalist John Pilgrim and his research into his book “Out and About in Croxley Green” due to be published in 2007.
(© Norma Bradley) Cover of the Croxley Camera Club DVD released in 2006
The 2006 AGM saw long standing treasurer Graham Laughton stand down after many years, Norma Bradley picking up the figure work. Another long standing arrangement changed when print competition displays moved from the stage to the floor of the hall. This made viewing easier and organisation less strenuous for the competition secretaries.
The Club introduced a new glass trophy specifically for Digital Prints to reflect the large amount of work being entered in that medium. Digital work did require some Rule clarifications relating to entries into the Most Unusual, Monochrome and Colour Challenge Cups – a varied selection of mediums, all affected by the new technology.
Following the visit to Kew in 2005, the Club maintained a horticultural theme with the 2006 outing to Wisley. The weather wasn’t as kind but did provide a good day and decent submissions into the subsequent photo hunt competition in September. The 2006 Revels saw the debut of the new tent sourced by Norma Bradley. This impressive structure tested the fitness and ingenuity of quite a few members initially but resulted in an impressive base to display the Clubs print work creating much interest on a baking hot day. Another experiment was the addition of a bric-a-brac stall to lure customers and prospective members to our display.
The Club introduced a new glass trophy specifically for Digital Prints to reflect the large amount of work being entered in that medium. Digital work did require some Rule clarifications relating to entries into the Most Unusual, Monochrome and Colour Challenge Cups – a varied selection of mediums, all affected by the new technology.
Following the visit to Kew in 2005, the Club maintained a horticultural theme with the 2006 outing to Wisley. The weather wasn’t as kind but did provide a good day and decent submissions into the subsequent photo hunt competition in September. The 2006 Revels saw the debut of the new tent sourced by Norma Bradley. This impressive structure tested the fitness and ingenuity of quite a few members initially but resulted in an impressive base to display the Clubs print work creating much interest on a baking hot day. Another experiment was the addition of a bric-a-brac stall to lure customers and prospective members to our display.
(© Norma Bradley) Debut of the new Club tent and the Chairman Paul Bradleys shorts at the 2006 Revels. Daughter Sarah looks on
To finish the year the Gents eventually succumbed to the Ladies in the Christmas Mix and Match.
(© CCC) 2006 2007 Programme
With thanks to;
Paul Bradley (Chairman, Croxley Camera Club, 1999 to 2009 & May 2007)
Mike Loose
Croxley Camera Club
Paul Bradley (Chairman, Croxley Camera Club, 1999 to 2009 & May 2007)
Mike Loose
Croxley Camera Club
