On my return walk along the River Hamble, I passed the time of day with a gentleman sitting on a seat overlooking the river. He asked if I'd got any good photos and if I'd seen the kingfishers.
My answer to the former was perhaps and in reply to the question about the kingfishers I told him about one Boxing Day way back when, along this stretch of the river, I came across a kingfisher sitting on a post, surround by folk with cameras.
I did get a shot with a little p&s but the distance was a bit too great. I've been in search of a kingfisher ever since.
I sat down and told David about my strangers' project and he was very happy to participate. He told me that he currently works for M&S, mostly on the till as he is recovering from cancer.
He could not stress enough how absolutely good the company have been to him. He joined them around the time of his wife, Ann's, death to be occupied and, especially after she died, to have a purpose.
I took a few photos from where I was sitting on the other end of the seat and found it was just right for a head and shoulders portrait. I did not want to ask David to get up and pose.
He told me that he lives locally and goes out for a short walk every day to build up his strength. He used to play golf and intends to get fit enough to take it up again.
His grandson, who lived with David and his wife, Ann, for 18 years, is getting married in the autumn. David will be best man and said he had been practising his speech whilst sitting in that quiet spot and thought I might have heard him as I came along.
I asked David about his working life and he told me that, following employment with the Ordnance Survey, he went to technical college and took City & Guilds, and further advanced qualifications, in printing and joined a large printing company where he worked for 28 years.
He became a technical manager and worked his way up the career ladder through technical director to a director/manager, only leaving when the company was taken over. He then joined the British Printing Federation.
David is a keen photographer and loves taking photos of flowers. His other main leisure interest is looking after his grandchildren.
Strawberry growing used to be a big industry in the area and David's father grew several acres of fruit as a local grower and was also a director of the Swanwick Basket Factory where baskets for strawberries were made from very fine pieces of wood.
Before we parted, David disclosed to me where the kingfishers nest further along the river. I am very tempted but also rather discouraged that I would have to get up about 5 a.m. to reach the designated spot for the best time to see them.
It was a pleasure to meet David and I wish him all the very best in his return to good health.
see my portraits here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150442566@N07/albums/72157674948019094
Who knows? The problem is that Ray, who uusally supports my photo 'foibles' does not appear interested in this one and I don't fancy being along the rive solo in the dark!!