A Croydon Advertiser man who helped set up one of the most famous photo shoots in history is celebrating 30 years with the paper.

Photographer George Hoole, (58), worked with the world-famous snapper Lewis Morley on the renowned black and white portrait shot of Christine Keeler – the woman at the centre of the infamous Profumo call-girl scandal during Harold Macmillan’s 1963 government.

But Geroge, (right), did not witness the shoot of a naked Ms Keeler – whose modesty was hidden by a chair positioned by George – because she asked him to leave the room when she took her clothes off.

George joined the Advertiser in 1974 after being headhunted from the News Shopper in Bromley.

Flower power in Trafalgar Square

But after five years at the paper, his career as a photographer was tragically cut short when he suffered a stroke after he had been on picket duty during the 1979 NUJ members’ strike.

George pulled through the stroke which threatened to end his life and returned to work for the Advertiser by helping set up a portrait photography studio in the paper’s old office.

He was then asked to return to the Advertiser’s head office where he has since compiled and managed the paper’s picture library.

Celebrating the milestone, George said: “The staff did a little party for me and everyone brought in food and wine. I also got a nice book of everyone’s photos.

“When I came to the Advertiser we were printing on lead which was wonderful. We had our own press down in South Croydon and on a Thursday the whole building would shake when the press started.

“That was when you knew you worked for a paper; it provided a lot of excitement!”

Model Twiggy

George also captured memorable images of The Who drummer Keith Moon and 1960s model Twiggy.

Drummer Moon

Advertiser chief photographer David Berman paid tribute to George for his years of service.

He said: “George is like a mentor to us younger photographers and has always been good to bounce ideas off.

“He gives us a lot of feedback and keep us grounded. He has also taught us to moan like proper photographers!

“George is also well-known in Croydon for his shortbread and his great sense of humour.”

Former Advertiser chief photographer John Nunn, who recommended George be headhunted from the News Shopper, said: “I had seen some of his work with the News Shopper and was very impressed. I was told to get him to apply for a job, which he did, and he very soon became well established as a member of the photographic team.

“It is a great pity that his talents as a press photographer were cut so short.”

Advertiser editor Ian Carter said: “George is, and always has been, a hugely important figure in the office. We are all very proud to have him as a member of the editorial team.”

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