Tributes to long-serving Corby news photographer who recorded county events

A Corby printer turned newspaper photographer who set up his own businesses has died at the age of 78 after a short illness.

Bernard Hales photographed thousands of events including hundreds of weddings, royal visits and civic events over a career stretching across 60 years.

Trained as a typesetter, Bernard moved into newspaper photography working for the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph based from the Kettering office in Dryland Street.

When he started in his hometown paper's office in 1962, darkroom assistant Kit Mallin was already part of the photographic department.

Kit said: "He was a terrific photographer and a perfectionist when it came to taking pictures. He was so helpful and encouraged me, took me out on jobs and even gave me a camera.

"He was like a brother to me and a really good friend. I'm going to miss him terribly."

Bernard was born in Kettering in 1942 and grew up in Kingsley Avenue with mum Peggy, dad Bernard and sister Helen. After attending Hawthorn Road Primary School, he left secondary school in Kettering at the age of 15 completed a six-year apprenticeship as a typesetter at Dalkeith Printers.

As soon as he qualified he switched to his first love - photography - when he was appointed as a photographer at the Northants Telegraph's Kettering office. He had learnt his skills assisting a wedding photographer as a teenager.

It was whilst taking a photograph of the new Kettering Carnival Court that he met his wife-to-be, Carnival Queen, Joan Floody. They married in April 1968.

After he left the 'ET' he set up his own printing business, Unity Print, but still carried on with his photography, covering weddings and doing PR work for clients across the county, eventually returning to work for the newspaper.

Alan Castle, who was based at the ET's Wellingborough office, worked with Bernard in the late 1960s.

He said: "Bernard started as a typesetter. We worked together for a couple of years but in different offices. He left because he wanted to run his own printing firm. We got to know each other better when he came back as a freelance in the late 1990s. He was always very helpful and jolly. He will be missed dearly,"

Bernard returned to full-time photography, working with wife Joan, covering weddings as well as covering assignments for Corby Council and covering news and PR jobs.

Former Northants Telegraph chief photographer Glyn Dobbs, who had replaced Bernard in 1970, re-employed him to cover shifts for the title.

He said: "He was a lovely chap. If you wanted any job doing he would do what was needed - no-one ever phoned up to complain and I never heard a bad word. He was a great bloke and the people of Corby thought a great deal of him."

In tribute to her husband Joan said: "He was a really decent bloke. He proved that through his actions. He worked really hard up into his seventies."

Bernard is survived by wife Joan, son Aidan, daughter-in-law Andrea and grandson James.

His funeral will be held at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Walsingham in Occupation Road, Corby, on January 14, at 11am followed by a committal service at Kettering Crematorium.

Donations can be made in Bernard's name to Cransley Hospice via Averil Philiips and Family funeral directors. Click here to visit the website or call 01536 511197.