Every year on August 19th, World Photography Day (also known as World Photo Day) celebrates the art, craft, science, and history of photography. The day also encourages photographers from around the globe to share a single photo which is meaningful to them.

This year, our wonderful volunteers asked their Link Friends the following question during one of their visits…

Tell me about a photo that is important, precious or memorable to you.

Here’s what some of our Link Friends said…

Margaret

88-year-old Margaret shared a photo of her grandmother, Elsie Mary, who was 18 when it was taken in the early 1900s! Although Margaret's memories are not so good now, she remembers her grandmother as "..... a little old lady sitting in a chair, smiling." Thank you to Margaret and her wonderful friend Carole for sharing.

Lily

Lily shared a couple of photos that she really treasures, of her and her late husband John. Lily and John met in the 1960's through ballroom dancing classes and dancing became an important part of their married life together. After John was diagnosed with prostate and bone cancer (in 2009) they decided to spend as much time as they could, whilst he was still able, to dance. Twyford didn't have any dancing facilities but they discovered that the Oracle had wonderful smooth flooring which was ideal for them. So they started visiting as
often as possible. They became quite famous! Click here to read their newspaper cutting.

Lily’s Link Friend, Maggie, told us that talking and reminiscing about happy times really boosted her mood. Thank you to Lily and Maggie for sharing.

Edwin

Edwin shared a photo of an important article in the Daily Mirror. The article describes how a medal awarded to the first British soldier killed in World War 1 is up for sale. Why is that important to Edwin you might be wondering? The soldier, Private John Parr, was Edwin’s uncle!

Edwin told volunteer Vikki all about how his uncle was killed aged just 17 in Belgium less than a month after the war began. Parr had heroically sacrificed himself so that his comrade could escape. Thank you to Edwin and Vikki for sharing.

Keith

Keith shared a photo of himself at around 10 years of age and wrote a (beautifully handwritten) piece about what life was like for him growing up to go alongside it.

His piece reads:

“I like this photograph; it was an interesting period in my life. I was born in 1924, the photo looks about the mid-’30s. In the 1920–30s, unemployment was very high and there was very little money for families to spend. Children’s clothes were patched up to make them serviceable for a longer period. It was not uncommon to see children wearing sandals during the winter months. During the 1920 – 1936 period you could leave your front door open because the majority of people had very little to pinch.

Children spent a great deal of their time outside in the fresh air. Today, less time is spent outside, and more time will be in front of computer screens. The technological age has taken over all our lives, only time will tell if it was a gain or loss for civilisation. I must admit that I was not the best pupil in the class at school and was made to sit in a front desk so that the teachers could keep an eye on me!”

Thank you to Keith and his friend Karen for sharing.

George

Link Friend, George Ridgley, shared two fantastic photos of himself as one of Ascot Racecourse’s famous ‘Bowler Hats’. In his interview in the Horse & Hound (shown on the right, click here to read), George described how all raceday stewards at Ascot have been wearing bowler hats since the 1950s: “It wasn’t a popular uniform choice at the time and almost caused a walk-out. But nowadays we are fiercely proud to wear the bowler hat - it makes us instantly recognizable and seem friendly and approachable“.

George was one of Ascot’s longest-serving stewards, who for over two decades managed the winners’ podium. He organised the movement of trophies around the racecourse and in the past quarter of a century, ensured some 14,500 cups and trophies were in place. His greatest claim to fame is when Estimate won The Gold Cup - he said, “he is the only commoner who has delivered a Gold Cup to a reigning monarch.”

George became quite the celeb himself, appearing in the Racing Post and being interviewed by Racing TV, CNN, Ascot TV and Dubai Racing Channel. "His easy charm, quick wit and years of amassed knowledge and kind nature have enabled him to effortless engage with a range of guests, including many celebrities.”

Link volunteer, Simon, told us how much he enjoys visiting George, and in particular, loves hearing his fantastic stories. Thank you for sharing Simon and George!

Become a friendship volunteer

As a Link Visiting Scheme volunteer, you’ll make regular visits to a lonely and isolated older person in Wokingham Borough. These visits provide a lifeline of friendship for our older people, and the regular, warm, friendly chats and companionship provide a vital link with the outside world from which they have become isolated.

Over time, you and your Link Friend will get to know each other well and together you will spend many hours full of fun, laughter and stories (as Lily, Margaret, Edwin and Keith have so brilliantly demonstrated)!

“It is a privilege to volunteer with Link Visiting. It’s an enriching and humbling experience... and good fun!”

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