A photographer has postponed his planned retirement after celebrating half a century working for a regional newspaper.

David Lowndes has stated his intention to “stay on” at the Peterborough Telegraph, where he began his career as a photographic assistant and trainee photographer in September 1973.

David, pictured, revealed last year that he originally planned to retire in September 2023.

He has served as the paper’s sole photographer, on a freelance basis, since 2014.

Speaking to HTFP, he said: “I am staying on at the newspaper, maybe – if they will have me – for a couple of more years while I am fit enough.

“I started at the Peterborough Evening Telegraph in September 1973 as a photographic assistant/trainee photographer. There were seven photogs using medium format cameras and hand-processed black and white negs and prints.

“We obviously served through the best time in the industry – the seventies and eighties before new technology and mobile phones with cameras appeared.

“Years later the newspaper went ‘morning edition’ and then weekly and by 2014 the photographic department was disbanded, leaving me as the sole photographer for the paper.

“It has been a privilege to document half a century of history in Peterborough, I have enjoyed it immensely and met many people – which is why it is so difficult to hang up my camera.

“A project coming up, with the help of Rock Art photographer Nick Elliott, is to produce a pictorial book to celebrate my 50 years.

“It should be completed by the end of the year which will be followed by several exhibitions, talks and book signings to highlight Nick’s images of me and my work.”