TRIBUTE TO DENNIS ROOKARD, MAN OF MANY PARTS

After a ten year gap, it was a great privilege to catch up with the Brentwood & District Photographic Club members when I arrived last week to give them a tribute talk dedicated to a super colleague, the late Dennis Rookard. Dennis was not only a journalist, short story writer, photographer, radio station enthusiastic, Talking Newspaper aficianardo, steam train fanatic and a man interested in everything fascinating about people and places (the name of one of my columns for the Weekly News Series). Dennis died a year ago and last Friday evening's session was devoted to this large, funny, friendly and kindly gentleman of the press. It was wonderful to meet so many of his friends, fellow members of this distinguished photographic club and some new members. Oh, and they do take some great photographs both traditional and modern, copies of which were on display. Check them out on http://www.bdpc.co.uk. Their gallery gives you a taste of brilliant images. A warm welcome is offered to all newcomers at their weekly Friday evening sessions. Picture above shows Dennis Rookard (right) with my sub-editor (till 2009), Steve Crancher, also a great writer.