A CAMERA club has paid tribute to a former member and well-known photographer with its new calendar.

Accrington Camera Club has produced a calendar for 2018 using archive pictures by Garth Dawson, who died last December age 92.

Mr Dawson, who lived in Queens Road West in Accrington, ran his own photography company in the town before before later becoming a life member of the camera club.

The club’s calendar for next year has a ‘then and now’ theme and each month features a historical image from Mr Dawson alongside one of the same area in present day Hyndburn.

Harry Emmett, vice-president of the camera club, said the idea is a fitting way to remember Garth.

He said: “We did a calendar about three years ago which was not very successful.

“The idea for this came about following Garth’s death and we got in contact with Garth’s two daughters about whether it would be possible to do this.

“It is a great way to honour and remember him. He really enjoyed his time as a member of the club.

“He was a consummate professional and very forward thinking in embracing the digital age.”

Mr Dawson served in the RAF in the Second World War and later set up his first studio in Union Road in Oswaldtwistle.

He then opened up a store in Infant Street and then ‘The Garth Dawson Studio’ in Bridge Street and took ‘pictures of almost everyone’ in Hyndburn.

The Accrington club launched a competition for its members and friends to take pictures of modern day Hyndburn to accompany Mr Dawson’s historical image.

Mr Emmett said it was a good challenge for photographers to take the images and was pleased with the end result.

He said: “It was fascinating to see the photographs and what people said about them. People didn’t look at the photograph as much as they looked at the memories.

“It was just a trip to nostalgia. It really is enjoyable to see the finished product.”

The calendar costs £7 and is available to buy from the Clayton-le-Moors and Rishton Co-op stores, the Accrington Market Hall card stall, Haworth Art Gallery and Hyndburn Heritage Centre.

The camera club is a registered charity and all money from sales will go back into club funds.