The History of Merthyr Tydfil Camera Club
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Merthyr Tydfil Camera Club has been in existence for over 130 years in one guise or another and has a number of different names, Merthyr Camera Club, Merthyr and District Camera Club, Merthyr Tydfil Photographic Society through to it’s current form as Merthyr Tydfil Camera Club. We have been looking through varies sources to see what was happening at the club during those 130 years.
The article opposite from the Merthyr Times dating from May 1896 comments on a member of the club although not named was busy taking images around the village of Troedyrhiw for a upcoming publication
The 1920s
Although it is believe that the club continue to exist during the early part of the century is wouldn’t be until after the first world war in the 1920s that we were again seeing newspaper reports and the like reappear.
In November 1922 saw the club move to a new headquarters at the Victoria Café, Victoria Street in the centre of Merthyr Tydfil on Tuesday evenings commencing at 8:00pm. Interestingly prospective new members from Mr George Arthur Reeves who lived in 6 Court Terrace according to the 1921 Census which is still there today on the bottom of Twyn Hill opposite the Baili Glas Inn. The Lantern lecture this evening was given by Mr Reeves’ son George Percival Reeves.
April 1923 saw the members of Merthyr Camera Club provide images from an exhibition in the town which proved to created great interest and admiration from everyone visiting the events. You will also notice that a number of the images on show had recently been on display in the London Salon. Number of the members also received awards in the Exhibition with George Percival Reeves receiving first place in both the best snapshot and best views sections, with Clifford George Lewis gaining second place in the best snapshot section and W. W. Jennings coming second in the best view section. W.W Jennings also received first place in the best enlargement section.
The following two images are courtesy of Alan George’s Old Merthyr Tydfil website (http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/) and the photographs themselves are the property of Lynda Ballam, whom father was a club member is the 1920s/30s
Second from left, standing up, is Lynda’s father, Ernest David Ballam.
(Photograph Courtesy of Lynda Ballam)
Kneeling on the chair, with the trilby hat, is Lynda’s father, Ernest David Ballam.
(Photograph Courtesy of Lynda Ballam)
It is believed that the club did continue to operate into the late 1920s and early 1930 but with great depression and less job security many members moved away from the area in search of work, the club seemed to decline and die a natural death until around the late 1920s to early 1930s.
The Late 1930s
A small newspaper article from the Merthyr Express dated 2nd April 1938 stating that with some keen amateur photographers in Merthyr it was felt there was a need a club again. with a meeting called for the 6th April 1938 this was the date the current Merthyr Tydfil Camera Club was established. By June 1938 the club was up and functioning running regular meeting
Right: These are reports from in couple of meeting held in June 1938, note the club are still looking for new members
Left: In June 1938 the members of the club held a small exhibition of their works in a room adjoining the Drill Hall
By September 1938 the club, now known as the Merthyr and District Camera Club were now planning for the year ahead, right is a copy of the club programme outlining events for the winter season which appears to run from October 1938 through to May 1939 ending the season with it’s first Major exhibition on 15th May. It is interesting to see that the programme back then does not differ from the club’s programme today in the subjects of practical evenings and club competitions. The club was now meeting every Monday at 8:00pm at 19 Pontmorlais West, Merthyr Tydfil
Left: Newspaper report of the newly formed club’s first Annual General Meeting held April 1939 in which the year’s activities were reviewed by the outgoing chairman and the elected of new club officers was carried out with Mr Frederick Pullinger be come chairman, Mr Rowland Franklin Freeman Treasurer and Mr J G Davies Secretary . It can also been seen that the Annual Exhibition was now moved from May to June. It can be seen that club meetings after the exhibition would be moved to Tuesday evenings
Merthyr Tydfil Camera Club 