Oh Happy Days – My Time as a Photo Journalist

80 years on……Burnley Express days, 6 December 1943, was the day I walked up the rickety stairs of the Burnley Express office in Bull Street to start work as a photographer. On arrival, I had to learn fast as their only photographer was Mr Simcock who was an old man and not well. As a 14-year-old, within weeks, I was out taking pictures and making printing blocks to go on the giant rotary press. It was wartime Britain, with all the young men and many women leaving their peacetime occupations to serve their country. I was to join Fred Simcock (Cymko) to cover all the news assignments. The Express has a great history, and six years before I joined in 1937, the Burnley Express had amalgamated with the Burnley News, which had offices and an editorial department on St James’s Row, Burnley, with headquarters in Preston.

Six years before I joined the paper, it was owned by the Brotherton brothers, with Mr Percy Brotherton, a regular visitor when I was there. What a gentleman he was; he was so different from the manager who replaced him. When I started, I worked unsociable hours for 15 shillings a week and, on returning from army service in 1951, having not completed my apprenticeship, I was offered £3.0s.0p as a process engraver, having been replaced by two photographers. I started covering Burnley as a news photographer, and in 1953, I received an offer to join the staff of the Manchester Evening News, which I couldn’t believe when I was offered £12.2.6d weekly with the average wage then around £5.0.0 a week. I was sorry to leave the Burnley Express, of which I still have great memories of those 15 members of editorial and the many printers along with the office staff where I had crossed the road in Bull Street to enjoy a pint of Dutton’s ale in the Big Window. Oh, Happy Days!

NorthernLife Jan/Feb 24