Members Area Members Area

Council

Mr. Roy Robertson Hon. FRPS

Mr. Roy Robertson Hon. FRPS

Hon FRPS President

Experience as an Architect and as Board member of Arts organisations working with the Arts Council and Local Government, in my local Photographic group, and through the Society as Regional Organiser and member of Council, has given me the knowledge and experience to support the aspirations of the Society’s members. My own Photography has included exhibitions and lectures in the UK and overseas. Particular interests include meeting members and supporting the development of their work through the Society.

Mr. Derek Birch ASIS FRPS

Mr. Derek Birch ASIS FRPS

Vice-President

I have been a member of the RPS for over twenty years, actively participating as a member of the Imaging Science Group, serving on the group committee as secretary, vice-chairman and chairman.  I am currently the Vice-Chairman of the Group, and as well as being on Council I am the Chairman of the Science Committee and a member of the Awards Committee and the Imaging Science Qualifications Board. In 2006 I took early retirement from my 33-year career as a research scientist and product developer with a large photographic company.  During that time I helped develop amateur and professional products including high-speed colour negative films, colour print paper and graphics films.  With my original degree in chemistry from Imperial College I became an Associate of the Royal College of Science (ARCS), and I am a Chartered Chemist and Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (CChem MRSC).  My personal interests are rooted in the science and technology of imaging, spanning the entire range from historical photographs in the RPS Collection to the latest developments in digital imaging.

Mr. Walter Benzie ARPS

Mr. Walter Benzie ARPS

Honorary Treasurer

Having qualified as a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland with Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co in London, I moved overseas with Arthur Young & Co.  On returning to the UK some years later I was in a consultancy role for a time before becoming a founder member of Collards, Chartered Accountants.  I am still a full time partner of this firm which is based in Surrey and West Sussex.
I joined Guildford Photographic Society fifteen years ago and have served variously as a committee member, President and Treasurer.  I am currently treasurer of the Surrey Photographic Association, and at the weekends a keen dinghy sailor.
In my spare time I am also an active photographic judge at club and interclub level in the South of England.

Having qualified as a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland with Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co in London, I moved overseas with Arthur Young & Co.  On returning to the UK some years later I was in a consultancy role for a time before becoming a founder member of Collards, Chartered Accountants.  I am still a full time partner of this firm which is based in Surrey and West Sussex.

I joined Guildford Photographic Society fifteen years ago and have served variously as a committee member, President and Treasurer.

I am currently treasurer of the Surrey Photographic Association, and at the weekends a keen dinghy sailor.

In my spare time I am also an active photographic judge at club and interclub level in the South of England.

Mr. Robert Albright FRPS

Mr. Robert Albright FRPS

Ordinary Member of Council

I have been Regional Organiser for the RPS Western Region since 2005 and Chairman of The RPS Audio Visual Distinctions Panel since 2006.

My photographic interests are broad. I am a past Chairman of Swindon Photographic Society.  In recent years I have had print acceptances in the London Salon of Photography, The RPS Members Exhibition, The RPS Panel Members Exhibition and the Digital Imaging Group Exhibition. I have won awards in and/or judged many AV events including The RPS International AV Championships, the Great Northern Festival, the Irish, Northern Ireland and Australian National Championships.

I have been Regional Organiser for the RPS Western Region since 2005 and Chairman of The RPS Audio Visual Distinctions Panel since 2006.

My photographic interests are broad. I am a past Chairman of Swindon Photographic Society.  In recent years I have had print acceptances in the London Salon of Photography, The RPS Members Exhibition, The RPS Panel Members Exhibition and the Digital Imaging Group Exhibition. I have won awards in and/or judged many AV events including The RPS International AV Championships, the Great Northern Festival, the Irish, Northern Ireland and Australian National Championships.

 

Mr. Robert Gates ARPS

Mr. Robert Gates ARPS

Ordinary Member of Council

I joined The Society in 1970. For 16 years I was on the committee of the Yorkshire Region, serving as Regional Organiser from 1995 to 2009. I am a member of the Historical Group, the Visual Art Group and currently secretary of the Contemporary Group. Recently, I was appointed to the Licentiateship assessment panel. I don’t specialise in any particular form of photography, but I now prefer to work on sets of themed images rather than stand-alone pictures. Current on-going projects include documenting Devil’s Water, which runs into the River Tyne near my home, and derelict lead mines in the Rookhope area of the North Pennines, which provided inspiration for the poet WH Auden.
Most of my working life was spent in ethical pharmaceutical distribution and I frequently moved around the country. I have been a member of camera clubs in Bradford, Milton Keynes, Sunderland, Halifax and Ilkley. Now retired and living in Northumberland, I am a member of Hexham Photographic Society.
I am particularly interested in the RPS Collection which is housed in the National Media Museum in Bradford, where I am a frequent visitor.

Dr. Tony Kaye ASIS FRPS

Dr. Tony Kaye ASIS FRPS

Ordinary Member of Council

 

As a professionally trained imaging scientist I am computer literate, and as a keen photographer, Photoshop literate, but more importantly, I genuinely believe I bring a high degree of enthusiasm to the tasks I undertake which I hope will help enthuse others as we work towards common goals. During my career with a major sensitized goods manufacturer, I had the opportunity to work with many customers, PR companies and advertising agencies, conduct press conferences, and act as a spokesperson for the company on local radio, so my approach to issues may be scientific but not “ivory tower”.
For 28 years I was employed as an imaging scientist by a major photographic manufacturer and for over twenty years I was the Quality Leader for all of their consumer and professional colour negative film sold in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. I took early retirement in September 2006. I believe that one’s value should be judged by what you can share not by what you know. Thus I may be regarded as a “soft touch” by any photographic club or societies who need a speaker on technical aspects of silver halide and digital imaging. Thus I have developed good links with many photographic clubs and societies and promote the RPS at every opportunity. 
I joined the Imaging Science Group committee in 2006, and I am currently the vice chairman of the Group, and have been a co organiser of the Good Picture Symposia since 2007 as well as a speaker at the Symposia.

As a professionally trained imaging scientist I am computer literate, and as a keen photographer, Photoshop literate, but more importantly, I genuinely believe I bring a high degree of enthusiasm to the tasks I undertake which I hope will help enthuse others as we work towards common goals. During my career with a major sensitized goods manufacturer, I had the opportunity to work with many customers, PR companies and advertising agencies, conduct press conferences, and act as a spokesperson for the company on local radio, so my approach to issues may be scientific but not “ivory tower”.

 

For 28 years I was employed as an imaging scientist by a major photographic manufacturer and for over twenty years I was the Quality Leader for all of their consumer and professional colour negative film sold in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. I took early retirement in September 2006. I believe that one’s value should be judged by what you can share not by what you know. Thus I may be regarded as a “soft touch” by any photographic club or societies who need a speaker on technical aspects of silver halide and digital imaging. Thus I have developed good links with many photographic clubs and societies and promote the RPS at every opportunity. 

I joined the Imaging Science Group committee in 2006, and I am currently the chairman of the Group, and have been a co organiser of the Good Picture Symposia since 2007 as well as a speaker at the Symposia.

 

Mr. John Simpson ARPS

Mr. John Simpson ARPS

Ordinary Member of Council

I have a particular interest in Distinctions and have been working in an advisory role with the Distinctions Advisory Board (DAB). I believe that the Distinctions process should be as transparent as possible: thus I think that it is time to review the structure and role of the Fellowship Review Board, to make it better understood by all.
I have been involved in photography for as long as I can remember. I am an active judge and lecturer and exhibitor. I am an Associate of The Society and also hold the distinction MFIAP.  

I have been involved in photography for as long as I can remember. I am an active judge and lecturer and exhibitor. I am an Associate of The Society and also hold the distinction MFIAP.  

I served for 3 years on the Advisory Board before joining Council in 2009. Currently I am Chair of The Society's Exhibitions Committee, Council member responsible for overseas members and Overseas Chapters, and I oversee and analyse the online surveys.