Noel first became interested in photography in 1993 during a visit to Worden Park in Leyland where he took shelter from the rain in a photography exhibition, more specifically, Chorley Photographic Society’s Exhibition.
In those days he used a Kodak Instamatic and wondered why his holiday pictures looked nothing like what he saw in the exhibition. One thing led to another and he soon became a member of Chorley PS. After his first visit to the club, he was hooked (like many of us). He upgraded his equipment started shooting slides, before moving to mono prints and purchasing a used enlarger at a club auction.
In 1994 he joined the club’s committee before becoming President of the club in 1997. In that year, he also spoke at the very first L&CPU Big Day.
In 2004 he converted to digital began entering BPE National, and PSA and FIAP International competitions. Encouraging other photographers to do the same, something that is common today.
He became our Competition Secretary and this was responsible for the changeover from slides to projected digital images and Chorley led the way into a new era.
In 2006 he was elected the L&CPU Executive and joined their competition team. Initially he took responsibility for print but then helped them migration from slide to PDI. So in 2009, when the PAGB were looking for someone to help them change from slides to PDI, he was doing it for the third time. The National Interclub Championships in Warwick that year was the first national competition to be run as a PDI, and it ran without a hitch.
In 2011 he stepped down from the L&CPU Executive and the following year he was honoured by being enrolled on the L&CPU Roll of Honour.
Back at the club, he was still busy on our committee and in recent years has been our committed and reliable competition secretary. Although he stood down from this roll last year, he is always in the background and ready to step in when needed, just like he has done in the last few weeks.
This year, he steps down from our committee after 25 years of dedicated service. Although something tells me he won’t be too far away from the action.
On behalf of the club, it is with great pleasure I award a Honorary Life Membership to Noel Morgan.