The idea of an Alliance of local camera Clubs was first discussed between Mr Keith Robertson of the Camborne/Redruth Club and Mr A S Ronalds of the Falmouth Club. Mr Ronalds at that time was Librarian at Redruth Library. The simple aim as stated in the first report was “ … to improve quality … add new interests … and to encourage more inter club participation with a view to wider horizons.

So, out of a central committee the West Cornwall Photographic Alliance was formed in may 1971, with Mr A S Ronalds as Chairman, Mr Keith Robertson as Secretary and Mr L Wilton of the Truro Club as Treasurer. The participating clubs were Camborne/Redruth, Truro, SWEB, Falmouth Photographic Society, Cornwall Technical College, Penzance & Goonhilly. Committee members in the first year of office included amongst others, Messers Les Ashworth and Charles Hosken, who are still represented on the present committee of the Alliance. Committee meetings were first held in the Redruth library, and then, for many years, in the social room of the SWEB Camera Club, Carne Brea, until that club fell away in 1979. Cornwall Technical College has been the venue for many committee meetings since that time, although other venues are now invoked.

Mr Keith Robertson continued as Secretary until 1977 when he moved out of the county. Subsequent secretaries have been Charles Hosken, Arthur Wiggins, Peter Terry and our present Secretary, Bob Frederick.

From the beginning the engagement of outstanding national photographers to visit the area was fostered – speakers who could not be supported by any one club alone. Many illustrious photographers have been sponsored including Michael Tickner, Sir George Pollock, Ian Ball, Tom Molland, John Dawkins, Richard Tucker, Frank Neubert, Bob Moore, Dr Lois Myers and Sheila McCullough and more recently John Podmore, Derrick Rodway, Heather Angel (when President of RPS), Barry Wilkins, Margaret Hodge, Jerry Woolridge, Chloe Johnson, Ian Platt, Andy Cullow and Helene Rogers, most of whom hold at least Fellowship Distinctions of the RPS.

An annual competition has also been a central theme of the Alliance with the aim of raising standards. A cup sponsored by Mr Ronalds, known as the Alliance Print Cup, was presented for the best print as early as 1972. Support for the print competition fell away when colour was first introduced, but commendably, in recent years prints have been enthusiastically supported. So much that an additional separate cup for colour prints has now been presented by Mr Abid Shah of Penzance.

Also in 1972, Mr Geoff Marshall presented a cup for the best colour slide and the first winner of the cup was Mr Shanock of Falmouth Photographic Society.
In the Queen’s Jubilee year of 1977, a special and additional colour slide competition was arranged which best symbolized the Jubilee spirit. This was one by Mr Bob Tanner who received an engraved Dartington glass mug awarded by the Alliance.

Charles Hosken
President