PT’s David Lowndes looks back on 45 years of photography

Peterborough’s longest serving lensman David Lowndes celebrates 45 years of photography on the Telegraph... here are a few of his favourite images

His career spans six MPs, 28 different Peterborough United managers and even 12 editors, and as he reaches 45 years as a Peterborough Telegraph photographer a week on Monday David Lowndes insists “I’m not retiring yet!”

David (65) is a well-known face across the city having joined what was then the Evening Telegraph back on September 3, 1973 when he was one of nine photographers on the books.

His interesting career, which he enjoys reliving on a regular basis, has seen him get up close with the Royal Family as well as World Cup winners and other sporting superstars such as George Best who told him to ‘sod off ’ (in slightly harsher language).

Not to mention prime ministers, entertainers such as Eric Morecambe (who David describes as the nicest celebrity he has met) and even astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Reflecting on some of his most memorable moments at the PT, David recalled: “Posh at Wembley has to be one of the highlights. The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy was the best one as the air was full of champagne.

“Tragic memorable moments include the Fengate explosion (in 1989). When I arrived at Fengate I was driving a white Escort with a big radio aerial on the back of it and a reflective jacket on the windscreen so it was assumed I was a copper and they let me in.”

David later went up in a helicopter to get an aerial shot of the explosion. “There was a reporter on News at Ten that night and you couldn’t hear him because there was a helicopter above him!”

The photographer’s job has not changed over the years, but technology certainly has. “When I started we were using film and the cameras were completely manual. We didn’t have light meters or autofocus and everything you took was handprinted by yourself,” said David, who has no plans to hang up the camera just yet to spend more time on his boat.

“I’ve been proud and privileged to have been at the front of every major event to have happened in Peterborough over the years,” he added.

“And I’m not retiring yet!”

‘Posh at Wembley has to be one of the highlights. The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy was the best one’ David Lowndes

Peterborough United celebrate beating Huddersfield Town in the 2011 League One play-off final at Old Trafford

Disaster came to Fengate after an explosives van delivering to a fireworks factory blew up on March 22, 1989, killing firefighter John Humphries and injuring up to a dozen more firefighters. The blast reduced factories to rubble, wrecked up to 100 cars an