AV News 194 - November 2013
Dobson Henry Medal
This special award of the Dobson Henry Medal is presented only on rare
occasions, it is awarded for outstanding contributions in the Audio Visual
medium, for furthering the activity of the medium, and for long service to the
medium.
The person in this citation started in photography in his early teens, and has
been very active in the Audio-Visual area starting under the wing of Sir George
and Lady Doreen Pollock in a canal boat in Gloucester Dock. This person has
been successful in all levels of competition from local to international events.
Over the years has presented 453 AV shows, including guest sessions at AV
days throughout the country. For those people who wondered where the original
front cover design for the latest International programme came from, look no
further and also he was instrumental in the Internationals relocating from the
aircraft hangar in Bath, as Colin Balls once called it, to Cheltenham Town Hall.
At the first International held there he partnered a long time friend and musician
to put on a Saturday night show which was open to the public, with the musicians
playing live and images being projected live onto a screen behind them. The
event was a cultural and financial success. He remained the local link man for the
second festival that was held there. He and his ex AV partner put on a Children
in Need evening at the town hall with their AVs. His contribution to photography
and AV has also been acknowledged and he has been awarded the APAGB. He
has carried out 130 photographic judging's, 11 Federation judging's and 35 AV
judging's and is held in high regard.
This chap led the field in the UK, using or should I say mastering the use of 4
projectors and with his love of the Cotswold's created many magical third images.
As a Head teacher he has taken many opportunities to involve the children of his
school with AV for a wide range of subjects. He produced an AV with the children
to show how the church adjacent to the church school could be modified for a
combined use. The AV won all parties over and the changes are now complete
and everyone has benefitted.
He has been actively involved with his local club, Cheltenham Camera Club,
since 1972 and they recently awarded him a life Membership of which there are
only ever 5. He was also founding member of the Cotswold AV Group, and led
the team that organized the Cotswold AV days. He achieved his FRPS at Bath in
the Octagon, I believe in the presence of Roy
Henry, using 4 projectors and there was
never any doubt that he would be successful.
Since then he has served on the distinctions
panel and chaired juries at AV festivals.
You have probably guessed that the
person in question is Martin Fry, who has
always helped and encouraged others in AV
both on a one to one basis and using his
teaching skill at AV days. I would now like to
present Martin Fry FRPS APAGB, - The
Cotswold Lad, with the Dobson Henry Medal.
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