London Camera Exchange (LCE) has announced the winners of its inaugural competition, LCE Photographer of the Year 2024. The contest featured 14 different categories including the ‘People’s Choice’ award open to public voting. The competition attracted nearly 13,000 entries from all over the globe and demonstrates photography’s continuing appeal. Entry was open to images captured on all types of devices: phones, action cams, drones and (the vast majority) using more ‘traditional’ camera equipment. First prize winner: Marilyn Taylor Taking overall first prize is Marilyn Taylor with her submission entitled ‘Long Tongued Bat Approaching Banana Leaf’, shot in northern Costa Rica. Marilyn recalls: “It was so dark that it was very difficult to see these tiny bats flying like ghosts. We could only photograph for a short time, as they soon flew off. This was probably one of the most interesting shoots I’ve ever been on – it was absolutely fascinating. The fact that I achieved a couple of super images out of it was a terrific bonus.” Marilyn, from Woking in Surrey, has a background in engineering from Oxford and now balances her time between freelance photography and playing golf. She is no stranger to photographic competitions, having previously won several contests and national gold medals. She was the first recipient of the Royal Photographic Society Digital Group PDI Raymond Wallace Thompson Trophy. Marilyn is currently studying at the UCA in Farnham for a Master of Fine Art Photography, working on diverse projects including the ‘Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Fine Art Photography’ and ‘Visual Alchemy’. Marilyn received £5,000 in LCE vouchers as the overall first prize winner. Category winners (£500 vouchers each): •Abstract – ‘Sailing’ by David Higton •Action – ‘Speedsters’ by Kaushik Majumder •After Dark – ‘Ready to Depart’ by Alexander Howard •Birds – ‘Incoming Gannets’ by Linda Ariss •Drone – ‘Haldon Belvedere Misty Sunrise’ by Daryl Baker •Landscape – ‘Sunset at Shiprock’ by Curtis Blum •Macro – ‘Wasp Trio Drinking’ by Ian Mears •Music – ‘You!!’ by Dominic Beaven •Pets – ‘Anti Gravity Dog’ by Daniel Sheridan •Portrait – ‘Authenticity is a New Future’ by Laura Arkhypenko •Street – ‘The Last Train’ by A B M Nayeem Siddiquee •Travel – ‘Valencia Opera House’ by Graeme Hilditch •Wildlife – ‘Long Tongued Bat Approaching Banana Leaf’ by Marilyn Taylor •People’s Choice – ‘Yaks Nupse’ by Patrick Pfirrmann The Landscape, Wildlife and Birds categories proved especially popular with entrants. Some of the shortlisted photographs featured particularly interesting stories, such as ‘Destination Dreamland’ by Becky Bailey, a deaf photographer who experiences the world through pictures. ‘Sycamore Gap – the Last Show’ by Ian Sproat, an electrician by day, is an outstanding image of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall, captured just a week before it was maliciously chopped down. One of the judges’ favourites, and Pets category winner, was an image of a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel entitled ‘Anti Gravity Dog’ by Daniel Sheridan. An employee of Bournemouth Council, Daniel also runs a photography website named ‘A Billion Clicks’, which – of course – specialises in dog photography! The awards were presented at a special ceremony at The Photography & Video Show on Sunday 17 March 2024 at The NEC, Birmingham. All winners and runners-up had their images displayed in an exhibition at the entrance of the Birmingham show, and shortlisted photographs have been made into a commemorative book. Nick Richens, chief executive of LCE, said: “We were thrilled by the sheer volume of entries to the competition and the outstanding quality and diversity of the photography submitted. Choosing the winning images was an especially tricky affair as there were just so many stand-out images. We would like to thank everyone for submitting their incredible work and making our very first POTY competition a resounding success. Congratulations to all the winners from the LCE team.” The LCE POTY competition ran from October 2023 to January 2024, and was the first time the UK independent retailer had hosted a contest of this scale. Nearly 13,000 entries were submitted. Overall, there was a £12,000 prize fund generously supported by leading photo industry brands including Canon, Nikon, OM System, Fujifilm, Panasonic and Sony. Judges included Chris George, content director at Future Publishing, street photographer Peter Dench, journalist and She Clicks founder Angela Nicholson, and Nick Richens, Chief Executive at London Camera Exchange. LCE is the UK’s largest chain of independent photographic stores and offers a wide portfolio of products and services for enthusiast and professional photographers and filmmakers. The company has been recognised for its outstanding customer service and support across the British photographic media for many years.   Image credit: Marilyn Taylor – ‘Long Tongued Bat Approaching Banana Leaf’

On Wednesday 13th of March, Ruckland Court Care Home, nestled in the Ermine district of north Lincoln, was officially opened by the Right Worshipful Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Biff Bean who cut the ribbon together with Al-Karim Kachra, Co-CEO of Country Court. The event was to celebrate the completion of the renovation and refurbishments which have recently taken place. Families and friends of the residents and the wider community were all invited to attend the event, hosted by staff from the home. Visitors enjoyed a fantastic afternoon tea-themed buffet, live music and tours of the home to showcase the stunning new rooms. Entertainment was also arranged for residents and visitors to enjoy in the two lounge dining rooms for the afternoon so everyone could feel involved in the event. The Mayor of Lincoln, Biff Bean said: “Thank you for inviting me to officially open Ruckland Court Care Home. I am so impressed with the results of the refurbishments. I visited the home in December while some of the work was taking place and I was looking forward to returning. I am very impressed with the results. It’s a beautiful building.” Co-CEO of the award-winning Country Court group Al-Karim Kachra said during his speech: “We need to give a big round of applause to everyone who has been involved, including the staff team who have continued to do an amazing job and for MV construction and the development team who have worked so hard during this project. “The feedback regarding the cooperation and the positivity about this project is beyond anything I have known and is a testament to the home manager and his dedicated staff team.” The residents, their families and friends enjoyed relaxing in the new Coffee Club bistro, which is a fantastic new area where they can socialise with tea or coffee and cake, making it feel even more welcoming and inclusive. Adam Atkin, Home Manager of Ruckland Court, said: “The transformation has been incredible, and the new facilities will be of huge benefit to the residents. The new Coffee Club bistro and the lounge dining rooms provide great spaces for inviting people from the community to join our residents for events and special occasions. “I am proud of my staff team who have had a positive attitude with all the work taking place, while still caring for our residents and I would like to say thank you to the families for being patient while all the refurbishments were under construction. “The reactions of residents, families and staff have been a true wow moment. I look forward to the residents taking full advantage of the new facilities in their home.” For more information about Ruckland Court Care Home or to make an appointment to view the home please contact, Adam Atkin Home Manager on 01522 530 217 or email rucklandcourt@countrycourtcare.com.

Next month will mark 80 years since one of the most unusual weddings recorded in Grimsby Minster’s history. On 19 April, 1944, the marriage took place of an airman to his dairy worker wife at a bomb-ravaged Grimsby Minster, and this is still remembered in the etched paving in St James’ Square. The ornate paving was laid on two sections of pathway, which lead from St James’ Hotel to the Minster as part of the most recent renovation works to the square. The Scoutmoor Yorkstone paving bears more than two dozen etchings of words, sentences, and symbols with connections to the town’s past, present and future. They are the creation of artist Adrian Riley, who spent weeks researching local heritage and speaking to people about their memories and those of their ancestors, before creating the artwork. One of the men Adrian contacted was former Hereford School deputy headteacher Vic Jay, which resulted in the following words being etched onto one of the stones: “My parents’ wedding took place on 19^th April 1944. Vera’s colleagues from the dairy provide a guard of honour with milk bottles.” Vic, now retired and living in North Yorkshire, recounted the story of his parents’ marriage and how it took place in the Minster, then St James’ Church, on April 19, 1944 – less than a year after it had been damaged by a German bomb. His dad Bob had been an airman in the Second World War whilst his mum Vera Stephenson worked at a dairy near Scartho – hence the milk bottles! However, to marry had not been easy for the couple. Owing to Vera’s age, she was just 19, Bob had to get permission to marry from her father. He refused and a visit to the local magistrate followed. Vic takes up the story: “After a visit to the magistrate, my dad, wearing his R.A.F. uniform and speaking in his usual confident way, had little difficulty in persuading him that he was a fine upstanding young man, worthy of anyone’s hand in marriage. The magistrate then directed some harsh words at my grandad and gave Bob and Vera permission to marry.” Bob, a fireman in Grimsby before working on the Humber Bank, lived happily with Vera and their three children until his death in 1974. Vic though has ensured the memory of his father, and late mother, lives on after researching and writing a book. ‘The Mallon Crew’ charts the history of Flight Engineer Bob and his fellow Lancaster bomber crew, who were piloted by New Zealander Bill Mallon. The wedding of his parents is also recounted by Vic who is proud to see a memory of that happy occasion on his family’s ‘very own paving stone’.