Coventry photographer’s focus on city’s children after WW2

Will Jefford

BBC News, Coventry

Estate of John Blakemore provided by Coventry University An image of two children from the 1960s stood in front of a pile of bricks next to a damaged wall. — John Blakemore’s pictures of Hillfields were among his first works as a photographer

A photographer who experts in the field said “inspired a generation” has been remembered after his death for his first efforts in the city of his birth.

Born in Coventry in 1936, much of John Blakemore’s initial work centred there following the end of World War Two.

His pictures of the Hillfields area of the city, where he lived as a child, were some of his earliest work as a photographer.

He took them fresh off the back of his National Service in Libya, which was where he first discovered his love for photography.

In Coventry itself at the time, having been severely damaged by the Blitz, the area was going through redevelopment, replacing some of its Victorian terraced streets with tower blocks.

Many of his pictures featured residents living in the area, especially children.

John Blakemore took pictures of his local community in 1963 and 1964

Estate of John Blakemore provided by Coventry University A close up of four boys, one of which is looking at the camera, wearing a quarter zip — John Blakemore took pictures of his local community in 1963 and 1964

Dr Ben Kyneswood said many people lived in poor conditions in Hillfields in the 1960s

Estate of John Blakemore provided by Coventry University An image of two young girls stood outside an old terraced house with a washing line hanging a number of white items of clothing — Dr Ben Kyneswood said many people lived in poor conditions in Hillfields in the 1960s

Dr Ben Kyneswood, associate professor in digital heritage and culture at Coventry University, used the images for an exhibition titled Imagine Hillfields.

“Hillfields in 1964 was still much like it was after the bombs of 1940,” he said.

“Protracted redevelopment plans by a council focused on the city centre meant residents lived in poor conditions.

“Kids played in bombed houses on derelict land for over 25 years after the war.”

Speaking of the more recent exhibition, held in 2015, he said: “Our ambition was to show Hillfields as a dynamic and interesting place and challenge some of the stigma.”

The photographer contributed some of his images for Coventrians to share on the University’s Coventry Digital website.

At the time the images were taken, Hillfields was still recovering from the Blitz during World War Two

Estate of John Blakemore provided by Coventry University An classroom with four students sat as a desk looking at a teacher, who is sat on a desk with another student standing on a chair next to her. — At the time the images were taken, Hillfields was still recovering from the Blitz during World War Two

Some of Mr Blakemore’s images feature on the university’s Coventry Digital website

Estate of John Blakemore provided by Coventry University A street scene of a 1960s terraced road in Coventry with a few cars parked on either side of the road and black lamp posts sporadically placed along the pavement — Some of Mr Blakemore’s images feature on the university’s Coventry Digital website

Mr Blakemore died on 14 January after a short illness aged 88.

Described by the Centre for British Photography as “one of the leading photographers of landscape and nature in the world”, after his death the Royal Photographic Society hailed his work as “beautiful, meticulously executed and thoughtful”.

Speaking of the late photographer Dr Kyneswood, director of Coventry Digital, said: “He was the best printer in the UK for many years and published books on how to photograph and print like him.

“His landscapes and tulip photographs are very sought after.

“In later life, he turned to bookbinding, creating small, handmade books which likewise were very much sought after.”