RIP - Irene Froy EFIAP, MPAGB, HonPAGB.

It is with great sadness that we can report the passing of Irene Froy EFIAP, MPAGB, HonPAGB.

In due course we will be remembering her in some special way, but for now a few words of remembrance.

Irene was a long standing member of Wrekin Arts Photographic Club and played a very influential role in the success and direction of the Club for many years. It would be fair to say that she put WAPC on the map as far as it’s reputation and standing within the photographic community.

Over the past year Irene struggled with her mobility so we saw less and less of her at the club, but we kept in touch via Zoom and she was always appreciated and welcomed on the occasions she could get in.

We will miss her greatly and her beautiful pastel images she was famous across the country for.

She was well known in almost all photographic clubs across the country and has many good friends who will be mourning with us.
She passed away on a trip to visit some of those friends in her beloved Scotland. A blessing was that she was with her family when she died, rather than being alone at home.

She will now join her dear Gerry (husband) and will no doubt be instructing him to stop somewhere to enable her to take a photo.

Our thoughts are with her family and the many friends she made in the photography world.

A smattering of her images can be seen on her WAPC members gallery, although it hasn’t been updated for a while - https://wrekinartspc.com/irene-froy-gallery-in-remebrance

*** MASSIVELY GOOD RESULT FOR THE CLUB AT THE MCPF FEDERATION COMPETITION ***

Yesterday (20/4/24) in Leicester the MCPF FEDERATION competition was held. This is for all the clubs in the Midland Counties and determines who represents the MCPF in the NATIONAL CLUB competition held around June time.
There were two sections, PDI and PRINT.
Each section has two rounds and there are quite restrictive rules about how many entries there can be for each individual, how many can be carried from previous round and how many Nature/colour and Mono entries have to be used.
There were images used from 9 different Club members.

Wrekin Arts and specific individuals did EXCEEDINGLY well.

WREKIN ARTS came FIRST in the PDI section … brilliant!!
WREKIN ARTS came THIRD in the PRINT section … brilliant!

and as for specific awards …
WREKIN ARTS came overall FIRST and won the ‘SMALL CLUB’ award
WREKIN ARTS got the OVERALL PDI award for overall best club.
ROGER EVANS won a Judges medal for ‘Cool Cats’ PRINT.
NORMAN O’NEILL won OVERALL BEST PDI in the competition with ‘Mother Earth’.

This is an enormous achievement for the club and individuals.
We now go forward to the Nationals with a spring in our step.

The individual scoresheets are here - PDI and PRINT

Wellington Town Council Mayor Cllr Paul Davis opens our 2023/2024 season

Wellington Town Council Mayor Cllr Paul Davis opened our season with a speech, presentation of cups for winners from last year and then spent all evening with us looking at all the prints on display, talking to each individual present and discussing photography in depth with those present. We are very grateful for his interest.

Whilst a number of members couldn’t be present we did have a number of visitors, some of which we hope to see in the coming year.

Much thanks needs to be given to those that helped set the night up and make it a success. Specifically Norman for all his hard work in all aspects of the night. Rose and Janet for their excellent ‘table of delights’ that kept us fed and watered. Bob & Tim for helping set out the Print displays and all those who attended.
If i’ve missed anyone, my apologies, but thankyou.

Below is a selection of photos taken on the night by John (with his new lens!)

Reminder of Annual membership subscriptions.

Membership fees for the season are now due. £30 for single person and £45 for a couple. OAP Fees are £25 single and £40 couple. 

The preferred method of payment is via Bank Transfer - it costs the club nothing. Bank Details: Wrekin Arts Photographic Club; Sort Code 40-44-50. Account Number 21575716. Please add your name as the reference. The club doesn’t have internet banking yet so please let Norman know 1066norman53@gmail.com when you have paid. 

In addition there’s weekly fees when attending of £3 for a member and £4 for visitors.

Another great success for the club at the MCPF Print qualifiers.

Having got through to represent the Midlands at the UK PDI competition, we have now succeeded in getting through to represent the Midlands in the UK PRINT competition.

We came 4th overall, but the first two clubs go through as of right based on last year’s (which we didn’t enter) results, so we squeezed in.

Roger Evans did particularly well, obtaining the award for best Mono Print - well done Roger.

Below are the prints used in the competition.
There are quite restrictive rules about how many can be used from one author and how many have to be Mono and how many can be carried forward from the first round, which Norman O’Neill managed/organised - many thanks to Norman.

FIRST ROUND (click on image to see full screen)

SECOND ROUND (click on image to see full screen)

Calvin being interviewed on Radio Shropshire Breakfast time 16/10/21

Radio Shropshire are interviewing Calvin (Downes) at 0820 Saturday 16/10, prior to the announcement of the winners of Weather Photographer of the Year, that he has been shortlisted for later that afternoon.

Calvin isn’t sure if the interview is ‘Live’ or recorded shortly before transmission, but it will be part of the Radio Shropshire Breakfast time show. He will try to get a shout in for Wrekin Arts Photographic club!

The actual announcement and presentation is at the Royal Meteorological Society’s annual event for weather and climate enthusiasts - ‘WeatherLive: From One Extreme to Another’. This is an online event this year on Saturday 16th between 1300 & 1600 (Winner announcement about 1530). It is open/free to anyone interested at https://www.rmets.org/event/rmets.org/event/weatherlive2021 to register.