AV News 179 - February 2010
Richard Brown awarded APAGB
The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain Meritorious Service Award
I have known Richard Brown for 32 years; we first met at the Midphot AV
competition and Richard was a member of Fentham PS in Birmingham where
he inspired many members to investigate the world of producing slide sound
sequences. The club formed an AV group called FADE and Richard was one
of the instigators, constantly encouraging and guiding the members. Not
surprisingly FADE became one of the best AV groups in the Midlands, giving
shows all over the region. The group organised AV seminars with Richard
playing a leading part and he used his contacts in the AV world to bring many
top shows to the Midlands. One I well remember was by Richard Tucker
FRPS; a stunning show that was to inspire me on my own AV journey.
Richard is still a member of Fentham PS and is the current Secretary. He
always enters and supports MCPF competitions under the club's name.
Over the years he has
given
a
tremendous
number of lectures to clubs
throughout Great Britain
and even though he has
not enjoyed good health for
very many years, this has
not stopped him from
accepting invitations. Peter
Brown (Past President of
the PAGB) recalls one
instance when he turned
up to talk at his local AV
Group and whilst sitting at
the front controlling his
L/R Dave Cooke President of Fentham PS,
laptop
he
suddenly
Peter Brown, Richard Brown and Keith Brown
collapsed and fell off his
chair. Despite not feeling well, he hadn't wanted to let people down.
At the age of 22 Richard was the youngest person to gain a Fellowship of
the RPS in AV. Gaining a Fellowship at this very young age meant that he
was soon asked to join the PAGB list of judges and he has judged at almost
every AV competition on the calendar throughout Great Britain. Over the
years Richard has shown unstinting devotion to spreading his considerable
knowledge to many photographers and AV workers and has given lectures
throughout the U.K. and Ireland. In 1987 Richard was pro-active in organizing
the first ever Audio Visual tour on behalf of the Irish Photographic Federation.
Together with myself and Clive Atkins we introduced two projector slide tape
shows to clubs where AV was in its infancy. I know, from speaking to IPF
members, that they were inspired by that tour and went on to organise their
own National AV Group and competition.
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