John Prentice, Late Chairman of Adderbury, Deddington & District Photographic Society
John Prentice, a popular and highly respected member of the Photographic Society, died suddenly and unexpectedly on the morning of Monday 2 September, at his home in Adderbury.
John was one of a small group of camera enthusiasts who, in 2006, met initially at The Red Lion Hotel, Adderbury, to discuss and share a common interest in cameras and photography. The group soon attracted similar enthusiasts, quickly expanded and, by 2007, it had located to a larger venue: The Deddington Arms Hotel. Coincident with this move, it was decided to establish the Society on a proper functional basis. John was deeply involved in this transition, bringing his organisational experience to bear and helping to create the Society’s organisation that is enjoyed today.
He was elected to the Society’s Committee in 2010, initially as Treasurer, and later becoming its Chairman in 2017. As such, John was involved with the Society’s move to The Cartwright Hotel in 2011 and, with it, the creation and support of the monthly Workshops to augment the Society’s normal meetings. The continued growth of the Society to its present level of membership, owes much to his efforts. In addition, John was also very involved with the concept and display of the Society’s photographs at the West Bar Surgery in Banbury, the photographic displays in the Adderbury Library and elsewhere, and particularly the Society’s annual photographic exhibitions in Adderbury, Deddington and Kings Sutton (the latter now defunct). In all this, John has been ably supported by his wife, Sue, who has participated regularly with John in the Society’s annual New Year Dinners, its Exhibitions and other social functions.
An electronic engineer by profession, and a man of many attributes, John retired in 2006. He dedicated himself to many activities in Adderbury. Among these, it should be mentioned that he was a School Governor of the Christopher Rawlins School for 36 years and, more recently, Treasurer of FOCAL (Friends of the Community of Adderbury Library), a charity dedicated to supporting the continued opening of the library.
John will be greatly missed by his many friends, but particularly by Sue, his daughters Rebecca, Kate, and their families. We offer to them all, the Society’s most sincere condolences on their sad loss.
John Branton
A selection of John’s pictures can be found in the Gallery > In Memoriam section of this website.