HE
1990s wasn't a very happy decade for me. Our son John was at
college taking a degree in photography, which I was very pleased about,
but Valerie developed cancer and, after a long very brave fight, died
a week before John was due to take his final exam. He was naturally very
upset, and his college tutor suggested it might be better if he didn't
take the exam. If he didn't, then on the basis of his course work and
his other exam results he was guaranteed a Second. If he took it and failed
it, he would have to take the whole final year again. John should have
been able to walk through that exam and gain a First, but in the circumstances
he decided to accept the Second. I think he made the right choice.Valerie had been both my wife and photographic companion for more than forty years, and when she died I didn't want even to pick up a camera again for a long time. But life had to go on. There were commissions to fulfil, and two books to finish, but I was thankful that John stepped in and took over 400 pictures for these. However, time heals, and with the help of John and his wife Wendy who came to live with me, and the help of many good friends in both the journalistic and camera collecting worlds, I got over it, and by the Millenium was ready to start photography again.
