7th April 2025: The Eric Oldham legacy Collection by John Hillier
John spoke to us last year on the Harringworth Viaduct , but among one of his other guises besides being Vice President of the Bahamas Society, he is also Secretary of the Railway Photographic Society.
His interest in railway photography has been life long, being encouraged and mentored by Eric Oldham. They grew up in the same town of Hyde in Cheshire and began with visits as a lad to Eric’s bakery when, over chats about buns, railways and photography, they developed a life long friendship. Besides being a Master Baker, Eric was also a member of the RPS and helped found the Guild of Railway Artists.
After Eric died in 2008, John secured his collection of photographs and paintings taken from the 1940s to the 80s and has published a selection of them in his book, 'The Eric Oldham Legacy Collection'.
John showed us a large number of photographs taken over those years on all the BR Regions. A superb collection, enjoyed by those present, of photos in the steam days mostly in black and white, but the 50s and 60s were in black and white, weren’t they?
The next meeting Monday 19th May, our last before a summer break, is at 7pm at the usual venue, Weston Favell Village Hall Booth Lane South, Northampton NN3 3EP,
The speaker will be Chris Rowley on the Stainmore Route.