UPDATED: Saturday, 29 May, 2010 10:51

ANNUAL MEETS

Also known as the "Gathering of the Clans", as distinct from "Gathering of the Rain Clouds" just before it pelts down! This, for those living in sealed caves and who have just emerged, is a natural and perhaps more frequent meteorological condition!

Here´s a typical shot of a members´outing and well illustrates their love of small, compact cameras!

• We are pleased to announce that Geoff Roughton, Frank Brzostowski and Keith Smith were awarded their Associatehsip distinctions and Dawn Carter was awarded her Licentiateship distinction at the Meet 2008. At the Meet 2009, Malcolm Bish gained his Associateship and at the Meet 2010, Alf Lambert gained his Associateship. Congratulations to all.

• Some background notes first:

Meets were introduced in 1996, when the very first weekend meet was held in Wolverhampton, which for the uninitiated is sort-of in the middle of the UK in geographical terms, the idea being to make the first venue accessible for people throughout the UK. This proved very popular with those attending.

Members arrived either on the Friday evening, when a good natter in convivial surroundings, with a modest (for most!) consumption of alcohol to accompany the natterings. For the rest, arrival came during Saturday, in time for the evening Dinner at which 28 sat to dine. The oldest member, Dr Winifred Thompson was presented with a bouquet of flowers and book tokens, after a whip-round amongst those present, to celebrate the occasion of her 82nd birthday! During the day on Saturday, most went out on photographic excursions, guided by members from that area.

On Sunday morning, members discussed a number of topics and in due course, over 450 prints - mostly monochrome and of high quality - were viewed by the five Fellows present, from which they selected 50 prints to form the Society's First Travelling Exhibition. This proved a popular session within the weekend event.

Everyone agreed the Meet was a resounding success and should, as soon as possible, become an annual event in the Society's calendar. Most of the members had met one or two of those present when they had attended workshops over the years and of course, now had the opportunity to meet up again and exchange views with others.

The second Meet took place over the first weekend of October 1998, at the Royal Victoria Hotel, Llanberis, in Snowdonia. This was but a short distance from both the former Snowdonia Centre of Photography at Talysarn and Brian and Mave's new home at Rhiwlas. The hotel is in a superb location, with easy and quick access to Llyn (Lake) Padarn, the Padarn Country Park and former Dinorwic Slate Quarry, the Snowdon Rack Railway, many castles and other historic buildings in the immediate area.

During the Dinner on the Saturday evening, long term member - and very hard worker for the Society - Kenneth A Nelson, Hon.FZPS was presented with a framed certificate proclaiming him as the Society's First President. Being a well kept secret, Ken was totally "gob smacked". A real "Gotcha" was performed by Brian, ably assisted by his partner in crime, Geoff Challoner, FZPS.

A good dinner followed by a few speeches and much celebration ensured an excellent Meet for all present. On the Sunday morning, members who had brought samples of their work found a lot of interest expressed in viewing them by those present. In fact, such was the standard of work produced for viewing that everyone received an upgrade to their former level of membership status. Awarding of a higher level of distinction is not given lightly and when it occurs, the Society celebrates together with the member(s) concerned because it is considered an honour for the member and the Society too.

Thus. we come to a report on the Annual Meet, held over the weekend of Friday 11th to Monday 14th June 1999, based at the Kensington Hotel, Llandudno, a prominent seaside resort popular with visitors from all over the UK and overseas because of its fine promenade and beach plus its impressive backdrop of the Snowdonia National Park

A get together with members and their partners on the Friday (arrival) evening after the meal allowed everyone to have a good natter, after being introduced, though many knew each other from past workshops and meets. Saturday morning, after overnight showers, proved fine and sunny and the showers had clarified the atmosphere and made everything look very fresh. Many pictures were captured in the Aber Falls area, which offers magnificent waterfalls and forests and rivers. Shutter releases were red hot, from the sound of things!

The special Dinner Event on Saturday evening went very well, followed by intensive discussions and a few renegades running a card school, though money was not seen to change hands. Lots of laughter, though, from players and onlookers!

Sunday morning was the main event, with all the Society's Exhibition work from the first travelling exhibition was on show. Additionally, virtually all members brought examples of recent work, both conventional and digital, all of which attracted great interest. Even the hotel staff spent time looking at and discussing the work on view. Then an informal discussion saw clarification on future objectives, including the Year 2000 Meet, to be based at Harlech in St David's Hotel over the Easter Holiday period.

The Easter 2000 Millennium Meet was a great success as were the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. 2009 and this year's 2010 back at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis, in the heart of Snowdonia. Meets are held over the first weekend in May each year respectively

The 2011 Annual Meet will be again held over the first weekend of May 2011 and will be again at the Royal Vic at Llanberis. Nowadays, the Meet covers from (most) arrivals on the Thursday until departure on the Tuesday morning

As St. David's Hotel at Harlech is to be refurbished, 2007 was our last Meet at this venue. A sad occasion as we have enjoyed its location and hospitality for several years.

At Meet 2007, on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, additional meetings were held to give an opportunity for members to show recent work (two evenings) and another for sharing books plus an opportuntity to buy/sell/exchange/etc books and photo equipment.

Here is a Group Photo from Meet 2007 - some are clearly camera shy because whilst they were totally visible when I (=Brian) set this up, they seem to have deliberately moved after I handed the camera to David, the Hotel Manager. Sad that after this, the hotel closed (no, we didn't drink the bar dry) so 2008 and 2009 Meets were held at the Royal Goat Hotel, Beddgelert.

L-R Front: Sharron Roughton, Dawn Carter (now officially a full "new" member), Nan Davies, Mave Allen, Edna Tonks, Villia Bullock, Mary Bish

L-R Back: Geoff Roughton (new member), Peter Bullock, (some-of) Ariaan Winter, Bruce Carter (President) Peter Singleton, Malcolm Bish, Hugh Barker, Don Southern, Dave Davies, Brian Clark, Judith Moorhouse, (some-of) Roger Wildbore, Jim Tonks, Alf Lambert, (top-of) Charles Hart, Alan Green and Brian Allen (Who's he?