Wilf Simcock, 1st February 1932 - 24th October 2009.

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Written by Julienne Taylor

Wilf died on Saturday 24th October. All members of Stockport Photographic Society will miss him very much, and our thoughts go out to Doreen and all Wilf’s family.

Wilf was a man of many interests and whichever interest he pursued, he succeeded at the highest level. He was an excellent Pianist, long distant Cyclist, walker and snow walking in the Alps. Wilf was a superb Photographer, but above all these this quiet gentle man was a devoted family man. Devoted to his wife Doreen, his 3 children, and all his Grandchildren, who must miss him terribly. Wilf joined SPS in the 1950s, he may actually have been a member for 50 years.

His work for A.V.Roe at Woodford, took him to many places abroad, and in the 1970s he resigned from SPS as his work sent him to Russia for 3 years. On his return, he rejoined SPS and his wife Doreen joined as well. Wilf soon became a member of the Council, and was Competition Secretary, a post which he held for about 8 years.

The photographs Wilf produced in the pre-digital era will be remembered by all who saw them. He was an excellent darkroom worker, developing and printing his own photographs. I shall never forget the stunning Alpine pictures which he regularly entered in the club competitions of the day. The arrival of digital photography did not daunt Wilf. He bought a quality digital SLR camera, computer, and printer. When he had mastered the art of digital photography to his own high standard, he started entering club competitions again, and was successful at a high level in most of them.

Wilf stayed with the club during the difficult times when membership decreased as the membership aged. Then along came Alan with all his new younger members with new ideas. SPS has expanded and changed beyond all recognition, but Wilf stayed with it and met all the new challenges in the art of “Photoshop”.

At our last Annual Exhibition at Stockport Art Gallery in March/April 2009 Wilf and Doreen won so many trophies, they had to bring a large bag to carry them all home in. Wilf will be sadly missed by SPS but he will never be forgotten, as his memory lives on in the wonderful photographs he left for us to enjoy.