Reverend Marion Pyke

Marion is the vicar at St. Peter's in Caversham but grew up in Spencers Wood, south of Reading.

She is also Chaplain of Westminster Abbey and Christchurch Cathedral Oxford.

I was asked to photograph Marion for the Spencers Wood Local History Group website last week.

We recorded a little of Marion's
memories of growing up in the village and set it to a background of images from the local history group. Click here to have a look.

All that was left was to make a portrait of Marion to accompany the article. I often use studio style lighting to create a portrait but sometimes, as here, nice soft windowlight works really nicely.

The Old Milking Machine Laboratories Part 1

It was a pleasure the other day to meet Sue Mundy, one of the artists who has a workshop at the old milking machine laboratories at High Copse Farm in Hyde End Road between Spencers Wood and Shinfield

Sue is a ceramicist and produces beautiful work inspired by natural themes. Her pieces are all hand made and I was there in time to see a fresh batch of work emerge from the gas fired kiln. It was interesting to learn that the process isn't 100% predictable - there's an element of chance with a gas fired kiln and Sue told me that sometimes, because of the variables involved, pieces can turn out slightly differently than expected. 

This reminds me of when I used to develop and print film, occasionally if the temperature wasn't absolutely perfect, variations would creep in that could change the quality of the final print. In this digital world I think that this handmade quality is lovely and that's one of the nice things about Sue's products, it's a chance to own a one-off, a unique piece.

This is Billy, Sue's faithful hound. He joined us outside for a portrait photograph.

Back inside the studio. 

A collage of some of Sue's work - plus an image of her potter's wheel from above. I thought the colours toned in nicely.

Thanks go to Sue for her time. Please check out her website. She's exhibiting at a range of different venues starting at the end of the month in Reading.

Roger - A Spencers Wood builder

This is a photograph I made of Roger Walker, a Spencers Wood builder.

Roger did a fantastic job converting a bedroom at our house a few months ago. Our 12 year old had started to outgrow her small room.

It was great until a couple of years ago, plenty of room, but she soon ran out of wardrobe space and with teenagerhood beckoning it was only going to get worse:)

Fortunately the adjoining bathroom was generously proportioned so we came up with the idea of 'borrowing' some space from the bathroom and enlarging the bedrooom.

My daughter was delighted, not only because she gained a bigger bedroom but also a shiny,  new bathroom right next door. As a teenager I fully expect her to be spending most of her time there. :)

The idea worked well and Roger did a terrific job of knocking down walls, rebuilding the rooms and fitting a new bathroom.

I should add that this image was taken on a separate project - that's not my bathroom in bits!

The Thrive Charity at Beech Hill

Kathryn Rossiter,
Chief Executive of Thrive.

Thrive is a small charity with base in Beech Hill. I've had the pleasure of photographing there for many years now. Like a lot of charities, funding is a constant problem and it's a case of continually getting your name out there and increasing the visibility of the the charity.

Naturally as a photographer by profession, I believe in the power of images to get information across quickly and effectively and I've always enjoyed helping Thrive out with portraits and other photographic work from time to time.

They have a great team working there headed up by Kathryn Rossiter who took over the reins at the end of last year. The location, right next door to Trunkwell House is a peaceful oasis of calm and it's a pleasure to stroll around it's well ordered gardens and outbuildings.

The charity provides help and therapy for disabled people by the use of gardening and garden projects. Being able to give structure and meaning to the lives of many people struck down by mental or physical disability is a wonderful thing. I always find it incredible how working in a natural environment, literally getting your hands dirty, can aid rehabilitation as it does.

Thrive has a busy programme of events that you can read about here and the centre in Beech Hill is well worth a visit if you've not been before.

Here are a few favourite portraits of some of the clients at Beech Hill.

Caf'Active, St. Michael's Church, Spencers Wood.

St. Michael's Church in Spencers Wood has been on the site since 1908. Personally I have photographed a few weddings there and, as it's not far from where I live, it's a pleasure to visit Caf'Active, a small church café that was set up a few years ago. It's proving to be a really popular community meeting place. Drop by if you are passing and meet the lovely Debbie who runs the café. It's particularly great for young parents as children and babies are more than welcome. They have a busy programme of events that you can read about here.

Debbie and her team work hard to make everyone feel welcome so do drop by and support the local community if you can.

Debbie, manageress of Caf'Active in Spencers Wood.

Beau Events in Swallowfield

Fiona and Mark run Beau Events - a specialist chair cover and table dressing business. They are located in the Brookside Business Centre in Swallowfield and stock a dazzling array of products designed to transform even the most mundane of rooms.

Amongst other things I was surprised to learn there are about 8 different ways to tie a bow :) and that you can choose from over 200 stock colours of fabric.

Mark and Fiona have an almost obsessive attention to detail. I was interested to see how they  cut and hem the fabric in their workshop to ensure everything is lined up correctly and how the fabrics are assembled to sit correctly on the furniture at the wedding reception. On the wedding day, the Beau Events team will swing into action with military precision and transport your finished covers and accessories to avoid creasing and crumpling.

Everything is installed in good time for the wedding meal (definitely no last minute panics) and throughout the whole process they liaise with you to make sure you are happy with your choices and the way everything is set up.

Mark and Margaret, hard at work.

Fiona in the stockroom at Beau Events