EAST GRINSTEAD CAMERA CLUB HISTORY

East Grinstead Camera Club was formed in 1955, although there had been a camera club in the area before the Second World War which was closed during the war.  The inaugural meeting was held in June 1955, and the first meeting was held in January 1956.

Claire Field, a local schoolteacher, was the founder member and the Claire Field Cup for the B section monthly prints was donated in her memory.  Mr Betts, the manager of Dixons, a local chemist shop at the top of Railway Approach, was another early member.

Mrs Addison and her sister Miss Morter were professional portrait photographers and members in the early days who lived in Lingfield near Roy Card, another member. The Mesdames Morter Trophy was donated in their memory for the Portrait Print of the Year.

They were widely published in the 1920’s.  ‘When A Fit of Laughter Gits Ye’ (see next page) was accepted in the London Salon Exhibition 1925 and printed in Amateur Photographer magazine.  The Keith de Lellis gallery in New York has a collection of Mesdames Morter prints.  The sisters are dressed up in costumes, such as a naval captain in  ‘Captain of the Good Ship’ (London 1927) and in a WW1 era winter coat in ‘Remembrance Day’ (London 1923).  In an exhibition at the Houk-Friedman gallery in the 1990’s they were marketed as early precursors of Cindy Sherman.

Brigadier W P B Ashton was the club’s patron for many years until 1981 and he used to host Christmas parties at Greathed Manor, Dormansland.  Later Christmas parties were held at The Old House, opposite the Felbridge Hotel, home of Gina and Bill Brewin who also held summer sessions in their kitchen.

One of the first Presidents was Chris Crosthwaite, a Leica enthusiast and a member of the Leica portfolio, sending prints to other members for appraisal.

A small but enthusiastic group of about 20 photography lovers met in places such as the Ship Inn in West Street and a scout hall in Portland Road, but later moved to The County Grammar School (now Imberhorne Middle School) in Windmill Lane.  At first they perched on stools in the Chemistry laboratory, later moving to the Geography room.  They met on a Tuesday evening and the school caretaker would jangle his keys at about 9.55pm to make sure they left by ten o’clock.

In 1955 the subscription was £1 for adults rising to £1 10s 0d by 1969.

In 1977 meetings were changed to Thursday evenings at Neale House, Moat Road (converted from a girls’ school into a conference centre), by which time membership fees were £2.50p, doubling in 1978 to £5.  By 1989 fees were £12.50p per member.  In 1990 the venue changed to The Small Parish Hall, De La Warr Road where the club currently meets.

In the early days the club held public competitions through the East Grinstead Courier judged by Doug Sizer, the proprietor of a camera shop by the clock tower.  Bill Kilby was another local camera shop proprietor who became outings secretary, arranging trips to such places as Whipsnade Zoo and Cambridge.  He was assisted by Doreen Ede later a member of a club on the Sussex coast and the East Sussex WI photographic section.

The first public audio visual (AV) show presented by the club was sponsored by Turner, Rudge and Turner and held in King George’s Hall in 1980, the proceeds being donated to the St Swithin’s Parish Church restoration fund.  Maurice and Joyce Flower produced all the sequences that year and the following years at Neale House.  They were joined by Stan King and moved their annual show to Sackville School.  In 1989 they formed the EGCC Audio Visual Group with other camera club members and produced an annual AV show in the Parish Hall from 1989 to 1999, sharing profits between the club and various charities.  The group has now disbanded.