EeHH.CO.UK

Award-winning Leicester photographer who worked around the world dies aged 78

An award-winning and renowned Leicester-born photographer has died. Roger Bamber was 78.

He was a highly sought after man in the industry, first honing his photography craft in Leicester before moving to London where over the course of his career he provided images for all the big newspapers on Fleet Street. However, much of his home surroundings in Leicestershire stayed close with him till the end.

The photographer, who died earlier this month, was in the newspaper business from a young age, becoming a paper boy and delivering the likes of the Leicester Mercury. Roger, who was the son of telephonist Fred and machinist Vera, was also a fanatical follower of Leicester City.

Born in 1944, Roger developed a lifelong love of steam trains growing up close to the Great Central Railway line, but creativity is where his heart lay in his studies. After leaving Beaumont Leys Secondary Modern School in 1960, Roger studied graphic arts at Leicester College of Art.

From here, Roger worked for the Leicester advertisement agency Gayfords before he returned to Leicester College of Art to become one of their first lecturers in its photographic department at the age of 19. However, he left after a year of teaching and in 1965 headed to London’s Fleet Street with his portfolio in hand and landed a job with the Daily Mail the same day.

Roger’s career then saw him move to The Sun newspaper for its 1967 launch, staying with the paper for 19 years, covering wars, music, hard news and features from all over the world. His photography skills were richly awarded too, scooping British Press Photographer of the Year during his time with The Sun - an award he later won again during his freelance years, mainly working mainly for The Guardian. Roger was also twice crowned British News Photographer of the Year during his career.

Roger lived in Brighton for many years with his wife Shân until his death. He is survived by his wife, sister Valerie Meyrick, who still lives in Leicester, and his nephew Joleon Meyrick. 

Reference: Lee Garrett : Leicester Live: