Tributes have been paid to an award-winning press photographer who has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 60.
Tony Flanagan, left, who was known to colleagues as Flan, began his career as a photographer in 1972 when he joined the Birmingham Mail as a trainee, spending 15 years at the paper and its sister title the Birmingham Post.
He then went freelance in 1987, taking photos for the national and regional press, PR agencies and other organisations, making him well known throughout the West Midlands.
Tony died on Monday surrounded by his family after a six-month battle with cancer.
David Brookes, editor-in-chief at Trinity Mirror Midlands, said: “I had the pleasure of working with Flan at the Post and Mail in the late 70s and 80s – and it was a real pleasure.
“Flan was a truly professional, award-winning photographer, but more than that he was a great colleague who brought the newsroom to life.
“Outside of work he had the same zest for life and I’ll remember him with a broad smile on his face and a pint glass in his hand.
“Many people in the media industry will be saddened by news of his death.”
Birmingham Press Club vice-chairman Fred Bromwich first worked with Tony at the Birmingham Post and Mail more than 40 years ago and also shared a number of years with him as a fellow director of the press club.
He said: “I will always remember Tony as a dynamic photographer – full of charm, confidence, and a true professional who created so many award-winning images. He was a photographic magician.
“Tony was so well-known that his death will touch goodness knows how many people. He will be sadly missed – but at least we will all have some fantastic memories of him to cherish.”
Former Birmingham Post business editor John Duckers, who has written a tribute piece to him, said: “Flan was one of those salt of the earth types who would do anything for anyone, readily going out of his way to help. He lived life to the full.
“He should be remembered sitting on a bar stool, enjoying banter in one of his many haunts, surrounded by laughter and companionship.
“It sometimes got him into scrapes – he kept getting banned from his local – but always bounced back.
“He had a wealth of tales about his newspaper antics.”
Tony also invested in property and had a number of cottages which he rented out. He leaves his son Alex.
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So sad to hear of Flan’s early demise. I remember him well, just as he is in that photo, as one of my contemporaries back in the day. He was the photographer you wanted to be with on the most newsy jobs when we were dispatched on Brum Post news stories by Harry Hawkes or the late Micky Orr. Seem to remember a few good times with Flan in the pub afterwards too… or maybe I don’t remember them! My sympathies to his family.
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Sad news….I first met Flan when he joined the Post and Mail and I was
with the Express & Star, based at the time in West Bromwich.We used to often meet on jobs in Brum and at Villa and Albion matches.
He was great company and we always enjoyed a chat. We met up with him a couple of times at his regular holiday resort in Cyprus, sharing a
botle of his favourite Othello red.
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This is sad news. Had the pleasure of working with Tony on many jobs in Birmingham in the mid-’80s as a young, wet-behind-the-ears trainee. Tony was professional to his fingertips and had a natural connection with people from all walks of life. He was a pleasure to learn from and never played the ‘big I am’ to a much more junior colleague.
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A great sadness at the loss of Flan…Photographers never die they just go out of focus…Cheers RIP.
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