At the age of 16+ my family decided that we would move to Devon. For a period of six weeks I was drafted to Stoke-on-Trent, I presumed, to be out of the way during the move. I quite liked the area as it was full of industrial places which were obvious as seen easily. However staying with some relatives I was given an introduction to photography by my uncle.
My uncle, it seems, was very trusting as he allowed the use of his Leica camera and tripod and his facilities for developing and printing. I still have some negatives, black and white - it was in the early 1950's - in my possession. I took a lot of the five towns actually six if Fenton is included showing pot banks (pottery factories), coal mines, steel works, railways and not forgetting a few young ladies. Stoke-on-Trent is quite different today.
When reaching Devon I bought my own camera and printer and the means to do my own developing. This lasted for about a year when I joined the RAF. It was a hobby that I did not renew.
As is was:
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