A group of NRPS members gathered on Thursday for the last meeting before the Christmas break, traditionally the Chair’s evening, at which fun and friendship features on the programme, together with a dash of photographic context thrown in to enhance the festivities.

This year we gathered for a leisurely walk in Bath,

following the Christmas Light Trail through the city centre.

Numbers were slightly down due to early holidays,

unavoidable isolation and family circumstances, but those that met in Charlotte Street were well rewarded by the ever changing light fantastic that greeted them, as they meandered down Milsom Street, carved a path to the Carousel and ambled into the Abbey Gardens.

The city was alive with people determined to enjoy their freedoms, whilst staying safe and having fun. There was plenty to photograph on the streets that glowed and

sparkled, teeming with projected snowflakes and cascading raindrops. Milsom Street was an absolute delight, with subtly changing rainbows from street to skylines, whilst the music and colour of the carousel contrasted joyfully with the pillared Roman Baths and the serenity of the Abbey that provided a stunning background to the Nordic Fir, subject of many a selfie. Sadly, the homeless camped in doorways and gathered in corners. Thankfully there was no chill in the air, but times for those living on the streets are hard in a community increasingly cash and contact free.

We finished our evening with a beverage at Nandos, where we lingered in the unusually mild conditions, exchanging seasonal cards, and enjoying the friendship and camaraderie that has become such a feature of the club as the pandemic continues.

We will now hopefully enjoy the two week Christmas break, re-convening via Zoom on January 6th, when Simon Roy will entertain us with his ‘Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer’. All entries for the annual Picture of the Year competition will have been submitted, and Suzanne Ladd will be putting the finishing touches to her evening due to take place on January 13th.

Jenny Short