MEMBERS were delighted to invite Les Nixon to the November meeting. Having heard him in May and been enthralled by his presentation, everyone welcomed him back. His talk this time was entitled Fifty Five years of Railway Photography, Part One.

In fact his first colour photograph was taken in 1953 and was a decent effort on film which has not aged too well. However, the bulk of the images on view were stunning.

The apparently random selection was devised to show facets of the constantly changing scene. This was aided by the fact that he has lived in or visited 53 countries. The themes seemed to be subject, composition, ambience and opportunity.

A prime example was a picture of Normanton station, looking across a damp, empty platform with a solitary gas lamp, towards terraced houses and a Victorian factory chimney, into a misty, setting sun.

This was a magical and unrepeatable image and one of many which now represent an historical record. His travels in Asia showed the Khyber Pass in its barren majesty, never a place to linger.

We were shown the Darjeeling railway, with people sitting on the front buffer beam ready to spread sand on the rails should it be required, particularly in the monsoon season. Health and safety at work?

Les is an excellent photographer and a most genial raconteur. The meeting finished late and nobody left early.

For details of future meetings visit 8erailwayassociation.org.uk or call Paul Tench on 07790 486 735.