An award-winning regional daily photographer who once took a picture of the first egg fertlised outside the human body has retired after almost 44 years of service.

Vincent Brown, picture editor at the Oldham Evening chronicle, has taken more than half a million photos over the course of his career with the newspaper.

Vincent began working at the Chronicle in January 1973 and was named Regional Photographer of the Year at the following year’s Print Awards.

Prior to joining the paper, he worked as a medical photographer at Oldham and District General Hospital, where he worked alongside Dr Patrick Steptoe and Professor Robert Edwards, who put the town in the world spotlight with the world’s first test-tube baby.

Vincent, pictured centre right, with colleagues on his last day

As part of his job, Vincent took a photograph of the first egg that had been fertilised outside of the human body.

Last year, he showcased his work in an exhibition at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, in Oldham.

Chronicle managing editor David Whaley told HTFP: “Vincent has been one of the faces of the Chronicle for many years. He was instantly recognisable as ‘the man from the Chronicle’ and always represented the newspaper well.

“He was rightly proud of the pictures produced by his department and would strive to get the best out of every job. All at the Chronicle wish Vincent a long and happy retirement.”