Francis Harrow completed his physics studies in Oxford before he became interested in photography. Since the very first photograph was taken in France about a quarter of a century ago, the technique has made huge advances. Francis is one of the pioneers, who has become an expert in the collodion method, by which the hours of long exposure can be reduced to two minutes. He is even making a name for himself outside Bridbury with his experiments in the use of flexible celluloid film and is convinced that this is where the future lies.

In the mean time he takes portraits of the village’s dignitaries, who are the first to see the advantages of the fast photography technique instead of all the endless posing for a painter. And the resemblance is better too! Mayor Geoffrey has had a photograph made of himself with his wife and seven children, Francis had to start again four times because the children had trouble keeping still for so long. He also had the voluntary fire brigade under the leadership of fire officer George Biggin in his atelier, where he immortalised them in complete tenure.

But most of all he likes to make portraits of Linda Ripley, the twenty year old daughter of John and Annabel Ripley who live in the big house with the veranda. Because Linda is beautiful! She has brown-blond hair with big waves and green eyes and a snow white skin with freckles. When she laughs she has little wrinkles around her nose and her neck is long and slim. One day he asked her to pose as his model, and her mother was furious because she didn’t trust that “strange artist”. But she calmed down when Francis said she was welcome to come too, and when he handed Annabel the first portrait of her daughter she was totally converted. He has now made ten portraits of Linda, which he displays in the window. Now more and more young ladies are coming to have their photograph taken, but none is as beautiful as Linda. One day he will ask her another question. One for life.