Exhibition of treasured pictures by long-standing Gorleston photographer

Brian Ollington, Yarmouth library exhibition (Image: Archant)

Brian Ollington, who opened his photographic studio in 1963, will be hosting the exhibition at Great Yarmouth Central Library from Tuesday to Saturday, November 5 to 9.

Lydia Eva, Yarmouth library exhibition (Image: Archant)

The studio, which is now owned by Stephen Bellward and Robert Wedon following Brian's retirement in 2003, grew from a one-man business after Robert joined in 1965, followed by Stephen in 1977.

Brian said: 'We set up the business during a time when the children of the post-war baby boon came to marrying age, and as a result the business got off to a good start – this was long before the digital age.

'My staff and I had the pleasure of taking photos of such wide and varied subject matter, from family weddings, to family pets, civic portraits and industrial structures such as North Sea gas platforms and ships.'

The exhibition will include, amongst others, photos of Margaret and Dennis Thatcher launching a ship, the Lydia Eva leading the tall ships out of the river on the 1978 Tall Ships Race, and Terry Wogan at the 1970 Erie Fete crowning 'Miss Erie'.

Brian added: 'As we were sorting the contents of dozens of boxes of old pictures and negatives – thousands of them – we felt a nice way to close this period of our lives would be to select a sample of photographs that covered the whole 40-year period and make them available for people to see for the last time. We hope people who used our business, those who are into photography and those who enjoy local history will drop into the Central Library to see this record of the years we were operating. It will show the evolution from black and white and, through technical improvements, to full colour photography.'