It's been a while since I last added to my blog and to be honest, too long. I have been busy and been taking lots of images of interesting people and places. If I go as far back as May this year I was asked to take some photos of a road opening near Corby.
The Corby Link Road OpeningNorthamptonshire County Council representatives with Roads Minister Robert Goodwill open the Corby Link Road
The event was well attended by local people and schoolchildren along with an ancient local fire engine, the Queen Eleanor, which belongs to the local Geddington Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Robert Goodwill Roads MinisterThis was the first brand new road opening that Robert has opened since becoming Roads Minister
Before the Government summer reshuffle Northampton and Corby had a visit by the then Secretary for Education Michael Gove who did a tour of Malcolm Arnold School in Northampton and the David Brook Academy in Corby.
The two MichaelsMichael Ellis, Northampton M.P. and Michael Gove at Malcolm Arnold Academy
October will see the publication of a book called Icons of Northamptonshire. I was asked to contribute some images toward the publication. I have included some of them here and a few more that weren't chosen. Photography and history does go hand in hand.
Northampton GuildhallNorthampton Guildhall is the seat of Northampton Borough Council. It is an impressive building, a testament to the wealth and power of the 18th and 19th century British Leather and Shoe Industry that was based in Northamptonshire
The Francis Crick MemorialThe Francis Crick Memorial is situated in Abington Street in Northampton. Francis Crick was born and raised in Northampton. With James Watson and Maurice Wilkins he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for discovering the structure of the DNA molecule
Sessions HouseSessions House is now the headquarters of Northamptonshire County Council. It was built in 1675 after the Great Fire of Northampton and is still one of the finest examples of a provincial courthouse in the country.
The summer of 2014 also saw the 50th Anniversary of the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. Silverstone is the hub for a £2 billion High Performance Technology sector in Northamptonshire and a vital part of its local economy. The county is the home of British motorsport and this years race was truly thrilling with a crucial win for Lewis Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton in his Team Mercedes AMG carThe Mercedes AMG factory is located near Brixworth about three miles away from my village
The Earl of Dalkeith with Jim Harker O.B.E.
Grand Prix carnival atmosphereBands and dancers helped make the event a wonderful carnival atmosphere
Racing and timing go hand in hand
During the summer, Bob Jones the West Midlands Police and crime Commissioner died sparking a summer by-election and a pre-general election stampede in Birmingham. I was commissioned to take the images of one of the Candidates, Les Jones, (no relation to Bob Jones). It was a full day shoot including a visit by the Home Secretary, Theresa May.
Police and Crime Commissioner candidate Les Jones
Les Jones in Walsall
Les Jones with Home Secretary Theresa May
Les Jones outside Birmingham Library
And finally, the County Council organised a civic reception for Northampton Saints who are double cup winners this year, winning the Aviva premiership and the European Challenge Cup, a tremendous feat for any rugby team.
The Aviva Premiership TrophyA very proud Andrew Langley holding the Aviva Rremiership Rugby Trophy
Buff Marshall with Joan Kirkbride and Jim MallinderBuff Marshall played with Northamptonshire Saints from 1963 to 1973. Joan Kirkbride is Chairman of Northamptonshire County Council and Jim Mallinder is Northampton Saints Coach
The Saints on TrialNorthampton Saints players finding out what justice was like in the 1600's They took part in a tour of the old court and jail