Rushden & District Photographic Society - The First 50 Years

Back in May 1949 Mr Clowes, the proprietor of Grafton Studios in Rushden High Street, supplied materials to local photographers. Mr Groome, owner of Charles Sanders' Leather Works in Duck Street, used photo quality soda for certain of the factory processes and supplied some of this to Mr. Clowes for his developing and printing. Two of Mr Groome's employees, Harry Ward and his son Douglas Ward, were both keen photographers.

On 6th May 1949 these four individuals, together with several other local photographers, met at Grafton Studios to discuss forming a club. Nineteen people attended and the Rushden & District Photographic Society was formed. Officers were elected, rules drawn up and Grafton Studios became the meeting place.

Mr Groome held the presidency from 1949-52 and was also Chairman from 1949-50. Harry Ward was Chairman from 1950-52 and President from 1952-72. Douglas Ward held the presidency from 1972-84 during which time Mr Clowes remained a member but held no office.

Early in its life RDPS established an association with the newly formed Kettering Camera Club, and print and slide battles were arranged.

Society membership stayed at around twenty initially and reached forty by 1960-61. Subscription, until 1960 was 10/6 which was increased to 12/6 in 1961, going up to £1 in 1962 and remained so until 1973.

Over the years the Society has had to relocate its meeting place a number of times - Sanders Recreation Club in Rectory Road, Higham Ferrers Library, and Fitzwilliam St, Rushden during the earlier years.

In 1973, membership dropped to 7 comprising Douglas Ward, John Lewis, Beatrice Kocon, Richard White, Terry Chapman, Dennis Patrick, Maurice Smith and Michael Hadley who refused to give up. Every member was on the Committee.

Application was made to join the Midland Counties Photographic Federation and two years later the East Anglian Federation.

In 1979 our first one-day-event was held at Rushden Hall. In 1981 the Rushden Open was established as also was the Autumn Weekend (sadly now discontinued).

The St. John Ambulance Rooms in Higham became our meeting place from 1971-96 and it was then that we moved to Stanwick British Legion Hall. Three "short term" moves followed, after which we settled at Irchester Village Hall in 1999 and later the same year RDPS celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

To our retiring President - Mrs Beatrice Kocon — a truly monumental asset to our club!

Beatrice Kocon

Unfortunately it was the night of the A.G.M, but another old stager invited her back another evening and so interest was maintained . Shortly after this, Beatrice asked a local photographer if she could assist in his darkroom, free of charge, to learn the technique of darkroom printing and developing.

In 1958, just 12 months later, Beatrice was voted onto the committee and there she stayed through all the upheaval and turmoil that was to come.

At this time, the club used to meet at the Grafton Studios in Rushden High Street but later moved to Sanders' Sports and Social club in Rectory Road. Sanders' was at the time a large building firm whose base and head office was in Rushden.

Whilst at this venue the club split, some went to Higham Ferrers and others formed a new club called the Nene Valley Camera Club. Beatrice tried to stay a member of both clubs but after about a month she left the Nene Valley club and remained with the R.D.P.S. After the Sanders' Sports and Social club, the R.D.P.S. moved to the Higham Library for a while and then back to Rushden, into what was then the British Legion Hall in Fitzwilliam Hill. At this time the R.D.P.S. was struggling with only seven members.

An AGM was held which lasted two nights, and with the help of a few stalwarts, Beatrice amongst them, it was decided to carry on.

In 1961 Beatrice was made Programme Secretary, a post she held for 14 years until 1975; in 1975 to 1976 she was made Chairman (or should that be chairwoman or even chairperson?). The club then moved to the St. Johns Ambulance rooms at Higham Ferrers where Beatrice did another two stints as Chairman, in 1979 to 1980 and 1982 to 1984.