The Bath Chronicle celebrated the work of one of its most respected photographers, after his decision to retire brought to a close a 20-year association with the paper.

Sam Farr, who has lived in Bath for the past 63 years, has produced some memorable images over the years, some of which have now been printed in a farewell supplement in the Chronicle.

A collection of his favourite photographs were displayed in the paper’s ‘Memories’ supplement, allowing him the opportunity to recall the where and how of some of his most iconic images.

After working in a gift shop and as a local councillor, Sam finally settled on a career in photography, starting out taking photographs for the Bath Weekly Advertiser before becoming a freelancer.

After decades working in the retail sector, Sam felt the time was right for change, saying: “I’d been coming to the same place every day for 30 years… and I needed to do something different.”

It was a dream career move for Sam who first became passionate about photography after buying a Ilford Sportsman camera when he was just 11 years old.

He joined The Bath Chronicle in 1986 where he remained until his retirement last month.

Crocodile Dundee phase for Sam

A fire at Prior Park in 1991 – and the lone image of an overturned vehicle sitting in the middle of a dual carriageway – are just two of a set of five images the Chronicle re-published.

The latter becomes even more poignant when readers discover that it was in fact Sam himself who was involved in the crash.

Recalling the incident he said: “I had just crashed my Lotus Europa Twin Cam, and I was lucky enough to climb out.”

However, there is one image in particular that the photographer remembers as being simply ‘perfect’.

Taken at the Royal Photographic Society, the picture of photographer David Bailey is what Sam calls a “perfect example of opportune photography”.

Sam recalls: “He (David) was looking the other way and I stuck the lens through a crack in the door to take a picture. David heard the click of the shutter and turned just as I took (it). Perfect!”

Further images of Sam Farr’s photography can be viewed at www.combehay.net.