20 Years of Photography at Saint Ronan's School
20 Years of Photography at Saint Ronan’s School
I started taking photos at Saint Ronan’s School in the Summer Term 2004, using my 35mm camera.
My 2 sons, Joseph and Oliver, joined the school in 2000 and my daughter, Jenny, in 2003 but at that time Saint Ronan’s didn’t have class photos or individual portraits for any of the pupils other than the Leavers. I jumped at the opportunity to offer my services when William Trelawny-Vernon joined Saint Ronan’s as the new head in 2003. I am very sentimental and photography to me is all about capturing memories so, of course, I wanted school photos of my own children as well as offering it to every other child there. Each year, my children would take their turns in having their school photos taken, standing in line with everyone else.
My style of photography has always been about capturing personalities so that hasn’t changed over the years but back then I shot everything with black and white film and in a landscape style. It was all very different. The school was much smaller than it is today, with only one class per year group and the classes were small, around 8/10 pupils per class. As the years have progressed the school has expanded quite considerably, but still retaining its charm and although my photos are a little bit more structured than they were, in terms of organisation, I am still able to capture the Ronian in each child.
As the years went on, I progressed from taking just pupil portraits and class photos, to photos of the Leavers, sports teams, sports matches, staff, various events such as the Brodie, World Book Day, Easter Bonnet Parade, Founders Day, Plays, Concerts, and carol concerts as well as other ad hoc school events. I’ve taken many photos in and around the school capturing candid images of the staff and pupils as well as all aspects of the school and grounds, that make the school unique.
I have photographed many children over the years. I may not remember all their names, but I do remember their faces. I like to think that they also remember me taking their photos, with fondness and with it being a time that was fun and full of laughs.
I love it on match days when some children race up to me asking if I will take their photos during the game or when I’m walking around the school and groups of children want to pose for a photo. I love being able to turn shyness and reluctance into a fit of giggles or even just coaxing out a little hint of a smile. And it’s great seeing the children I have photographed, years later and hearing about what they’ve been doing.
Being a photographer at Saint Ronan’s comes with its challenges. I have been hit by various balls, chased by pigs, pecked by chicken, followed around by peacocks and drenched in the pouring rain. I have been out in all weathers, sometimes having to use a dog poo bag to cover my camera when I have forgotten my waterproof cover. I have fallen over in the mud, taken up in a cherry picker to take photos of the front of the school and sometimes given a very tall ladder to stand on. I have been taken on a joy ride around the school on a Gator – it was the first time Amanda was allowed to drive one – and ‘pestered’ by one of the robotic lawn mowers, which also mowed over my special ‘pencil case’ (if you know you know). Luckily nothing was damaged and my ‘pencil case’ is still in use today. As well as all the different children and staff, I have met and photographed the likes of Queen Camilla, Frank Gardner, Clare Balding, Val Biro and Paul McCartney to name but a few.
Having joined as a parent and then continuing to work as the school photographer, Saint Ronan’s holds a very special place in my heart. When my children left the school they donated a bench, which has their names engraved on a plaque. I do try and sit on it whenever I can, but it keeps being moved – I think someone is trying to tell me something!!
September 2024 will see a change in the leadership of the school, but I am hoping that I can continue capturing many school memories for as long as I can.
Over the next few weeks or so, I will be releasing lots of Saint Ronan’s photos from the last twenty years, so look out for those on my social media pages. There will be lots of funny ones to look back on as well as some of my favourites.
FLOREAT SAINT RONAN’S!
