Pic courtesy of Echo Newspapers

A pioneering chief photographer whose image of three mourning Queens garnered worldwide coverage has died.

Ron Case, who spent over two decades with Essex title the Echo, was 83 when he passed away near his home in Ongar, near Chelmsford.

Ron, left, was known for his unusual approach to setting up photos and always being on guard to capture the moment.

His most famous shot was of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II at the funeral of King George VI in 1952.

Working for the Keystone agency, Ron captured a brief moment which was used around the world and has often been reproduced since.

It was the only picture published of the Queens closely together but sadly Ron didn’t get a penny for it.

He later said: “If I had an old shilling for every time that picture had appeared around the world, I would be a rich man.”

Ron’s innovative eye for a photo saw him use a helicopter to help engineer a photo of school children in Essex to mark August 8, 1988 – the date 8.8.88.

He and the school used two-way radios to arrange children wearing white shirts on the playing field into the shape of the date.

It had to be done in advance because of school holidays but the stunt came off and the picture appeared in the paper.

When a new large VAT building with six floors opened in Southend, Ron was allowed access to it one evening.

He plunged it into total darkness bar a few selected rooms to spell out VAT in lights.

In his earlier career Ron was in the Royal Navy and also worked as a photographer on Fleet Street.

Ron is survived by his wife Barbara, daughter Wendy and son Peter who is national newspaper picture editor. His funeral takes place on Wednesday in Harlow.