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Ribblesdale Camera Club was formed in June 1939, and sixty years or so afterwards,

still thrives in its own small clubroom in Ribble Lane, Chatburn, near Clitheroe.

Being on the border between Lancashire and Yorkshire (the Badlands, some might say!),

Ribblesdale Camera Club has always had a reputation for being a lively organisation.

We really enjoy our photography and while members take most things that appear in

their viewfinders, we have specialists in portraiture, landscapes, natural history, motor

sport, cave and mine photography and audio-visuals. Some are equally at home in

front of a computer as in the darkroom, but others send their films to trade processors.

The Club has facilities for both wet processing and digital manipulation and ink-jet

printing, but many members have used neither! All, however, are pleased to share

their experience with fellow club members whether expert or beginners.

The Club never loses sight of the fact that photography is fun. Or should be.

A great advantage of having our own clubroom is that we have facilities for portraiture

and developing and printing in both black-and-white and colour. Members may use the

room between club meetings, perhaps to show their family and friends their holiday

picture using the club's high quality projector and a big screen. The Club-room holds

about 30, which holds membership down to around forty, but like all clubs, we always

seem to have a few seats we would like to see used.

Chatburn is a small village only a mile down the old A59 from Clitheroe, the main

town in the middle section of the Ribble Valley. Clitheroe is a pleasant market town

with a population of around 18,000. Its two focal points are the 800 years old Castle

(about the same size as our Clubroom!) and the Parish Church, each on its own

limestone knoll. We also have one of the few remaining Andrew Carnegie endowed

public libraries with its characteristic design. All three of our schools have been

top-of-the-ratings in their different league tables and a national survey showed that our

health centre is second to none. We are the place with lowest unemployment in the

country. The "best bit" however is the wonderful walks in the Ribble and Hodder

valleys with views for miles, especially of Pendle Hill with its witch trial associations.

A very good spot to visit and we would be pleased to advise any photographers

where to see the best landscapes.

Chairman, Jeff Cowling is on 01200 440868; Secretary and Press Officer

Ken Geddes is on 01200 423474; while 01254-822760 reaches Robin Haworth our

Programme Secretary. Meetings are held in the Ribble Lane, Chatburn, Clubroom

at 7:30 on Tuesdays from September to the end of May. Summer meetings are mainly

outdoors, and additionally there are occasional Friday evening Workshops.

Our Annual Exhibition is held in Clitheroe and Whalley Libraries, Reference Library.

To get to our Clubroom, turn by the Post Office on the little triangular green in the centre

of Chatburn, down Ribble Lane.

It's the small building on the left with the white edged steps about 100 metres down the

road, just before the new houses.We look forward to seeing you at the club!

For (External) Competition Queries Contact Steve Ashcroft : 01995 61062