Duncan Elson: Photographer, who has contributed a great deal to our community.

Duncan and Fran Elson are the kind of people who always help, and do the best they can to support other people. It was fun and interesting to spend time getting to know about their past, when I interviewed Duncan, back in 2020.

The words below are from the Northumberland Gazette article, published in March 2020. When you read further down, you will find out what has happened in the intervening years, and learn about the remarkable project that Duncan is now involved with.

March 2020

I think just about everyone in Coquetdale knows Duncan and Fran Elson. Together they set up and ran the 2nd Rothbury Scouts Group in 1989 until 2007.

Fran attends the Monthly Makers' Market, selling her beautiful Colours of Coquetdale art works, and also in Elements, Rothbury's Craft Co-operative.

They are both flood wardens and great stalwarts of the annual pantomime.

Interviewing Duncan about his work as a photographer, and other adventures in his interesting life, was a pleasure.

'I was about 7 when I got my first camera' he tells me. He remembers the first time he watched his dad in a dark room 'I sat watching this picture emerge, it was magical. That was it - I was into photography!'.

An interesting collection of old cameras in Duncan and Fran's kitchen, including Duncan's very first camera!

Leaving school at 15, Duncan blagged his way successfully in the world of sales.

Living life to the full in London, in the Swinging Sixties, a bit of a 'tearaway,' he ended up in hospital with a gastric haemorrhage. The consultant told him to start living life differently or he wouldn't live much longer. So, Duncan enrolled in the RAF. 'I knew I would get nutritious meals and get myself fit'.

He trained as an Assistant Air Traffic Controller and was posted to Boulmer. 'I also got to study photography as an official hobby. They gave me a billet which I made into a studio. It was great!'

During day-release at Newcastle Poly, one of his lecturers noticed his talent, and entered a picture into an exhibition. It was commended both for interpretation and technique. This gave Duncan a great confidence boost.

Meanwhile Fran was doing teacher training, based at Alnwick Castle. The RAF brought in the trainees to Boulmer for dances, which is how they met. Duncan laughs: 'The defences of Alnwick Castle have been breached by more members of the RAF than by any enemy force - we were in there almost every Saturday night'!

Fran, by Duncan Elson.

Duncan and Fran married, and opened a gift shop in Amble. Duncan continued his photography, doing 'Bonny Baby' competitions, weddings and pictures for the Gazette. He set up a branch of Master Photographers.

Always community minded, Duncan served as a Town and a District Cllr, and volunteered on the lifeboats.

Besides babies, Duncan also did quite a log of dog photography.

When video was first available, Duncan was intrigued. 'I was fascinated; I bought lots of equipment and started creating promotional videos for various companies, and I was one of the first in Northumberland to video weddings'.

Mixing technology with photography now dominated Duncan's thinking. He made an ingenious invention: 'I called it Live Electronic Animation (LEAnimation)'. This was a point-of-sale device which allowed any cartoon figure to be able to speak directly to customers. It was a massive hit! Duncan shows me press cuttings. One reporter says 'It will entertain, attract and amaze'! LEAmination won many prizes and awards.

In 1988 Duncan and his family settled in Rothbury and the photography business flourished. Although now retired, he still takes wonderful photos for pleasure and for many community events. Duncan is always keen to help others, and he has a great many hilarious and interesting tales to tell about his life.

What Duncan is doing now...

Unfortunately, in the years since I interviewed Duncan, his health has taken a turn for the worse. But being Duncan (and Fran being Fran), this change has not stopped them both from continuing to help out in our community.

As his eyesight began to become impaired, Duncan and Fran joined Vision Northumberland's Camera Club, at their meetings, held in Rothbury.

'How did you find out about it'? I asked, Fran told me that when Duncan was first diagnosed with cognitive impairment, and macular degeneration, staff at the North Northumberland Older Adult Team Clinic at Hawkhill recommended the club.

Fran told me that an exhibition of the Club's photographs was about to open, in Blyth. I was delighted to be invited to the exhibition of photographs, taken by members of Vision Northumberland's Camera Club.

I was delighted to accept, and, to be honest, very intrigued about how such a club came about.

The opening event is at RePUBlic Gallery, Blyth, until 17th May 2025 - when it will be transferring to a venue here in Rothbury. (Venue to be confirmed).

How the club began

After taking some time to look at the remarkable photographs, wonderfully curated and displayed, in this fantastic venue, I sought out Michael Rickwood, who is a volunteer and an award-winning photographer. (Here is an interview with him, about the project).

'How did this group come to be formed in the first place?' I ask Michael.

'Well, it all began when I was working for Vision Northumberland' he tells me. 'I was in the cafe there and began talking with Joan. She told me how much she was missing taking photographs'.

Joan Costley, also from Rothbury, is severely visually impaired with macular degeneration. Before this developed, she had been taking photographs since 1974 using an Olympus Trip. She felt the whole process seemed magical. But now, it was something she thought of often, and missed.

'She told this to you - a photographer!' - I was grinning at Michael, as I could guess what happened next.

'Yes, you have guessed right', Michael grinned back.

'I realised that a camera/photography club might well be a great addition to the range of activities Vision Northumberland offer. And so the club began!

The club started in 2023 and is run by Joanne Money, who is the (very busy, and approachable) activities co-ordinator.

The group meet up once a month for an outing, and photography session. Then a second time in the month to discuss the photographs, and to plan the next outing.

In between, they share their photographs via a WhatsApp Group. This works well, as they can all open the images on a computer, or tablet, and enlarge as much as necessary to be able to fully appreciate each image.

I begin to look around again at the photos, and I am drawn to one of a man, at the coast, eating an ice-cream, looking at some starlings. I think it is the emotion of the image I am most drawn to.

None of the photographs have the name of the photographer on them. It is pleasing to see that many already have red spots on, indicating they have been sold. This is great news, as the charity relies on donations - the money raised from the exhibition will be put to good use.

The Mayor of Blyth, Aileen Barrass, is at the opening, and I ask her what she thinks of it?

'Amazing' she tells me, enthusiastically. 'All the different places they go, I recognise them. Such beautiful use of colour, and such a wide range of topics'.

She points out one of her favourites, a snail on a watering can, appearing to be studying its reflection in the water. 'I just love that' she tells me.

I am delighted to see that Eric Fisk, who I know, from Rothbury, is one of the photographers. In fact, the snail photograph is his. 'The funny thing is', he tells me, 'is I was just taking a photograph of the snail. It was only when I enlarged the photograph at home that I realised the reflection was there!'

Duncan

When Duncan first joined the group, he took great pleasure in being able to help and support some of the members. Duncan knew all about cameras, how they worked, and all about taking photographs. Jo Money told me that he helped out a lot, and his help was very much appreciated.

Now, however, Duncan tells me that his memory is failing, and his role is that of a member of the group, rather than a helper.

Of course he continues to help with the analysis, or critiques, of the images the group shares with one another.

Fran and Duncan's passion for life and community service is undiminished, but time does take a toll, and things are slower now.

I feel we in Rothbury and Coquetdale owe a great deal to both of them, for their community service, their help and advice to many different people and organisations, over the years.

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