Exhibition honours enthusiast Ken and his lifetime’s work
WHEN local photographer and craftsman Ken Walters died in July 2020, at the age of 89, attendance at funerals was restricted so his family committed to planning an event for when friends and family would be able to get together to celebrate his remarkable life.
The result is an exhibition of Ken’s woodwork and photography, now being held at St Mary’s Church in Wirksworth.
Born in Derby in 1931, Ken taught woodwork at Pear Tree School in Derby, and at Hopwell Hall School, Risley.
After he retired, he attended craft fairs throughout Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire, and in 1990 he spent a month at the Osnabrück craft centre.
But it was photography that was his passion. A member of Derby Photographic Society from the age of 16 until he died, he served as its president four times, and he was a regular contributor to the Derby Telegraph’s Bygones supplement.
He was patiently supported by Nora, his wife of 60 years, who decorated many of his craft items, and eventually took up photography herself. The exhibition, which has been developed by his daughter, Olwen Wilson, and his son, Matthew Walters, showcases Ken’s considerable skills. His photographs reflect the development of techniques over the years, from darkroom-printed black and white and Cibachrome photographs, through to digital images, as well as the exacting standards of club photography, and the wide range of his interests.
Many of the photographs chosen for display had been selected for the North-East Midlands Photographic Federation annual exhibitions.
Olwen Wilson said: “We’ve already had some lovely feedback in the comments book, such as: ‘He was such a warm, gentle, and kind man, and that shines through the photos and the way he saw the world. Thank you for sharing them with us all.’”
The exhibition, which is supported by Wirksworth Team Ministry, can be viewed during church opening hours: 10am to 5pm, until Saturday, October 30.