I cannot remember a time when photography was not a major part of my life. My family had a Box Brownie camera and in my late teens my first introduction to printing was producing a contact print from the large negatives of this camera with my future husband Tony. Later we progressed to a simple 35mm camera then a reflex.

To produce prints Tony and I made a wooden horizontal enlarger - the lens was the camera lens. This is still stored in our attic. By this time we had joined Swindon Camera club and I had won a Print of the Year ( Beginners Section ) with a print produced on our wooden enlarger. Since then, we've had various cameras and our own fully equipped darkroom. I've progressed from Beginner's section to a Fellowship of the R.P.S. in 1983. I also spent many happy years as Head of Photography at Brockenhurst College teaching 'A' Level and G.C.S.E. photography.

Now we've retired and our darkroom has turned into a utility/workroom. Although the enlarger is still fixed to the wall the dishes, Jobo drum, etc. are all in the roof. Our negatives/slides are scanned into our Evesham computer using a Nikon Coolscan IV scanner and images are manipulated on a screen instead of a baseboard. The smell of fixer has left the house but the magic still stays .

It is still thrilling to capture an image, enhance or change it to something seen in the mind, and then see it as a finished mounted picture. Southampton Camera Club has been a source of help, inspiration and close friendships for very many years. The standard of photography is very high - one member commented ''If you get a seal at Southampton it's like getting an International acceptance''. Here are five of my pictures which have done well in Exhibitions and competitions but which also mean a lot to me.