Served in RAF 1942-1946 = trained as aircrew - wireless Operator/air gunner - pictures taken of comrades.

Returned to enter professional photography later (1948)

Opened business working press and weddings (over 3000) Before retiring in 1997….

Motto….. Photography for a living!
               Living for Photography.

Commenced with Ensign Autorange - Kodak Regent, MPP technical 5x4 - Super Ikonta - Rollieflex - Speed Graphic - Hasselblads… Staff numbering twelve in the 1970's

At present acting as Monthly Competition Secretary to Accrington Camera Club - Learning from advanced members landscape Photography.

Presently all Digital and using a Canon G5 (gre camera)

Attended Paddock House Grammar school (School now Demolished) until the age of Eight - (fancy sending a young Lad to a girls school), only three lads there at that time. The nuns Decided that they had enough of lads!

Then to St Pauls School. Oswaldtwistle until my father thought that the Accrington Grammar school would give me a good education...

But Garth was not inclined to be educated. Left the Grammar With only a pass in Art and geography and obtained a job Working for the London Midland & Scottish Railway as a Telegraph linesman (Telephones and electric signalling Equipment) which was just at that time was being introduced.

In 1942 volunteered for RAF aircrew (Wireless/Operator) Air gunner, ended the war in Coastal Command flying in Vickers Wellington's based at Barrow in Furness.

Returned to the railway but I was not very happy, resigned And commenced work with my father who had a Shoe Retail and Repair business in your Union Road just below The Palladium cinema (Now Demolished the row of shops) My father at that time collected Army cap badges probably Had about 400 which were on show in the shop window, Of great interest to the population of Oswaldtwistle...

He was interested in photography and encouraged me which I did enjoy... I opened a studio in Union Road on the same row As St Pauls school in 1949, married in the same year to my wife Dorothy, Two children born 1951 and 1954 both girls. Elder one trained as a doctor and now works locally, and the Other is a support teacher at Accrington college.

Moved from union Road Oswaldtwistle. After purchasing a studio In Church Street, Accrington - a wood hut built in 1898 And run by the two Moffitt brothers, moved from there after Purchasing a studio run by Rudeni (Blackburn photographer) In Infant Street, from there to Bridge street and the corner of Blackburn Road, (Formerly Melias-Grocers)

From 1949 as was asked by the then owner of Accrington Observer to work on a freelance basis to cover their press Photographs, also concentrated on Studio and wedding Photography - covered some 3000+ weddings in that time. A glorious thing covering weddings - to be paid for joining some ones happy day (Usually) - enjoyed covering Mothers Unions meetings, Accrington Stanley, Royal visits, Long service presentations, and other local activities.

Finished with the Observer and concentrated on the retail side of photography in Blackburn Road, retired 1978, former employees took over the running of the two businesses Reg Whitham - Wedding and studio, and David Mausley on the retail side.


I am now enjoying photography for my own amusement. I feel that I must thank all the people that I have met over the years and surprisingly still greet meet as a long lost Friend!