Gateshead Camera Club

'Gateshead & District Camera Club held its inaugural meeting on the 21st. of November 1910. We don't have the records of that first meeting to know how many keen photographers attended, but the Club has continued to meet on a regular basis every one of the 88 years since. Records of meetings from 1922 show a keen band of members enjoying Club outings to Winlaton Mill, Prudhoe and, on one occasion, a day trip to Seaton Sluice ...

'Talks and outings were generally politely recorded as "being much enjoyed by members" although a 1946 talk on "aerial photography in warfare" was reported to be "too technical and rather uninteresting". A trip to North Shields Fish Quay in May of the same year reports "very little activity - no-one made any exposures" ...

'The event of colour photography and the "new lantern" slide material was decidedly controversial, with many committee meetings held to discuss the implications - indeed in much the same way that we are now debating the latest innovations like digital imaging. I wonder what people will make of our records of these events in fifty years time. Could you be booking your place in history as a member of Gateshead Camera Club?.'