In 1978 a group of 14 regular attendees of Photography classes at West Bridgford College started to meet
independently and in January 1980 decided to formalise the meetings by forming the Rushcliffe Photographic
Society.
Later that year the first AGM was held and the constitution formed which still forms the basis of the current
constitution.
In 1981 the Society joined the North & East Midlands Photographic Federation (N&EMPF), part of the Photographic
Alliance of Great Britain (PAGB), which enabled the Society to gain access to the many lecturers, competition judges
and presentations on offer as well as benefiting from the insurances that membership of N&EMPF provides.
The Society has continued to grow and flourish and with the steady increase in membership over these years it has
been necessary to relocate on a number of occasions. The Society has had meeting rooms in West Bridgford as well
as Edwalton before settling at its present location at The Parish Rooms, Burnside Grove, Tollerton in October 2007
with occasional use of St Peter’s Church Centre on Tollerton Lane, Tollerton.
The Society has become one of the fastestgrowing
photographic clubs in the East Midlands region and is a
testament to the friendly, informal atmosphere and reflecting the Society’s engagement with the local community
through its annual exhibitions in West Bridgford and Tollerton, and its support of various community and charity events
throughout the year.
With a membership of over 80 enthusiasts from the Rushcliffe and district area, the Society is one of the largest in the
region and fulfils its objective of increasing the appreciation and enjoyment of photography and we are rightly proud
that a number of our members have gained distinctions with the Royal Photographic Society and PAGB, and have
achieved successes in national and international competitions.
In 2017 the Rushcliffe Borough Council moved to a new location at Rushcliffe Arena in West Bridgford and the
Society was honoured to be invited to provide some of its members images for graphical displays in the Council’s
offices, and in 2018 Society members were invited by Rushcliffe Borough Council to photograph the Ovo Energy Tour
of Britain cycle race which started one of its stages in West Bridgford town centre.
The Society owes its success to the hard work and dedication of many individuals over
many years who have contributed to the committee and who have supported the Society by participating in, or leading
our activities and with helping out on our regular Monday evening meetings. We hope to follow in this worthy
tradition, making the coming year one which all members will find exciting and fulfilling.