News - Beaulieu Camera Group

Details: Published: 08 November 2025

Beaulieu Camera Group held our Print of the Year competition 2024 on 5th November.

Prints which had been awarded a Seal of Merit during the year were eligible to take part giving a total of 37 in the competition.

Our judge for the event was Peter Woodhouse of Salisbury Photographic Club. Peter has judged at BCG on numerous occasions and as always, his critique of each image was excellent. Peter held back 16 prints for final consideration, before making his final choice of winners.

First place and the Print of the Year Trophy was awarded to Alan Price ARPS for his print "Red, Gold and Masked".

In 2nd place was "Ian Hutchinson with "Dunlin".

3rd place was awarded to Bob Abbott for "Covered in Dew".

1st Place Alan Price Red Gold and Masked

Gordon awarded four Highly Commended Certificates to the following: "Young Jackal" by Bob Abbott, "Salisbury Cathedral Reflection" by Gordon Garrett, and "Bright Eyed Dartford Warbler" and "Sunset at Longslade Bottom" both by Maggie White CPAGB.

HC Gordon Garrett Salisbury Cathedral from the Nave to the Lady Chapel

HC Maggie White Bright Eyed Dartford Warbler

HC Maggie White Sunset at Longslade Bottom

Congratulations to the award winners and to all the Beaulieu Camera Group members whose prints were awarded Seals of Merit during the year. The quality and variety of genres and styles certainly made for a super evening.

Sue Dunham Chairman BCG

Details: Published: 18 September 2025

Beaulieu Camera Group's annual "Boys v Girls" competition took place on 17th September. Since the events inception the "Boys" had increased their lead last year to 5-0 so the "Girls" were on a mission to win the event this year.

The members of each team were invited to submit up to 3 PDI images to their Team Captains whose task was to choose twenty to represent them, with at least one included from each member.

Our judge for the event was Jon Mitchell, a member of Gosport Camera Club. Jon has judged many of our competitions in the past and we always enjoy his critique and insightful commentary and he certainly got into the spirit of the evening.

There was a great array of subjects and genres shown, with Jon giving equal consideration to all. The images were scored out of 10 and the team with the most marks were declared the winners.

The final result was a great win for the "Girls" who scored a total of 170 marks with the "Boys" team scoring 166. The prize for the winning team was a box of Roses which was shared between the members of both teams.

Thank you to Hilary and Paul, the team captains, who had a very difficult task in choosing the images and to Ian for his expertise in running the competition.

Congratulations to the following members whose images scored 9.5 and 10: Ian Bateson "Swan Lake" (10), Linda Dunham "Colour Twist" (10) and "The Italians Are Coming" (10), Vanessa Bateson "Saxholl Crater" (9.5), Hilary Flaxman "Baby Macaque, Yamanochi, Japan" (9.5) and Emma Port "The Shambles" (9.5).

The Scoresheet can be view by clicking on this link: Boys V Girls PDI Competition 2025 Score Sheet

Sue Dunham, Chairman

Details: Published: 21 July 2025

This year's Beaulieu Village Fete was held on Saturday 19th July with a theme of "Pirates" and thankfully, after a damp start to the day, the afternoon was dry and bright with a very good number of visitors.

The event was opened by Edward Sault, a TV presenter on BBC South. He was driven in to the Fete, which was held on the lawns of Palace House, by Lord Montagu, in the car used by Toad in the filming of "The Wind in the Willows".

There were lots of stalls, traditional games,activities and entertainment in the arena areas including Morris dancers, a choir and of course the Beaulieu Brass Band.

Beaulieu Camera Group were delighted to be invited to show a display of prints once again with a total of 76 images on show representing nearly every one of our members. Beaulieu Camera Group also held a prize draw to help raise funds for the Common Good Foundation. Three images from our members were selected as the prizes. They were "New Family in the Mist" by Bob Abbott, "A Display Fit for Two Queens" by Linda Dunham and "Summer Shade in the New Forest" by Maggie White. The photos were all of locations in and around the New Forest and Alan Price kindly printed, mounted and framed them. A total of £63 was raised with the three winners of each draw delighted to receive their chosen print.

The delighted winners of "New Family in the Mist" and "Summer Shade in the New Forest" were presented with their prints on the day. "A Display Fit for Two Queens" will be delivered to the winner next week.

Traditionally the celebrity who opening the event is invited to choose their favourite print from those on display. The winner this year was Hilary Flaxman CPAGB with her image "At Your Own Risk - St.Marten", who will receive a John Lewis voucher.

Each year we ask members of the public to vote for their favourite picture, with the winner being awarded The Bob Grier Trophy. The total number of votes overall was 316.

This year's winner was Bob Abbott for his stunning image "Last Sunlight of the Day". Sadly Bob couldn't attend the Fete and Lord Montagu kindly accepted the trophy on his behalf. We will present Bob with his trophy when we next meet at the School.

Thank you to all the members of Beaulieu Camera Group who helped with the setting up, stewarding, and taking down the display on the day. It was as always, a lovely, sociable occasion and such a great way to be involved with Beaulieu Village and all the other organisations who take part in the Fete.

To see lots more photos of this year's Fete please click on this link to the Beaulieu Fete website: Beaulieu Village Fete 2025

Details: Published: 05 July 2025

This annual event was founded in 2021 in memory of Alan Cooke, a much-loved member of Beaulieu Camera Group, to celebrate his wide range of photography.

The images for each year's competition portray a different genre and the one chosen for 2025 was "Travel". A definition of the theme was sent to our members and the judge for this year, Amanda Miller LRPS CPAGB. Amanda is a member of BH Photography Group and has consistently impressed us with her judging at BCG.

There was avery good entry of 45 images which Amanda did an excellent task of assessing. She held back fourteen images from which she selected the following for the awards:

1st place and winner of the Alan Cooke Memorial Shield was Hilary Flaxman CPAGB with "Follow Me Carefully, Arctic Ocean".

Hilary_Flaxman_Follow_Me_Carefully_Arctic_Ocean_Winner.jpg

Seven Highly Commended Certificates were awarded: Bob Abbott "Fish Market, Galapagos", Vanessa Bateson "Lake District" Linda Dunham "New York Nights" and "On the Lookout", Gordon Garret "Inca Ruins in the Sacred Valley, Peru" and "Taj Mahal Sunset Across the Yamuna River" and Maggie White "Have Bag, Will Travel".

Gordon_Garrett_Inca_Ruins_in_The_Sacred_Valley_Peru_HC.jpg

Gordon_Garrett_Taj_Mahal_Sunset_Across_the_Yamuna_River_HC.jpg

To see the PDF of the entries, please click on this link:Alan Cooke Memorial Shield 2025 "Travel" Results

Sue Dunham Chairman

Details: Published: 05 July 2025

This annual event was founded in 2021 in memory of Alan Cooke, a much-loved member of Beaulieu Camera Group, to celebrate his wide range of photography.

The images for each year's competition portray a different genre and the one chosen for 2025 was "Travel".A definition of the theme was sent to our members and the judge, Amanda Miller LRPS CPAGB and a member of BH Photography Group, whose judging at previous BCG competitions has always impressed us.

There was avery good entry of 45 images which Amanda did an excellent task of assessing. She held back fourteen images from which she selected the following for the awards:

1st place and winner of the Alan Cooke Memorial Shield was Barrie Armstrong with "Alicia"

01 Barry Armstrong Alicia

The Runner-up was Linda Dunham with "Blues Man"

Seven Highly Commended images were awarded: Bob Abbott "Looking Over My Shoulder", Barry Armstrong "The Auctioneer", Vanessa Bateson "Dolomites, Ralph Ellis "Dark in the Chapel", Chris Kealey "Vallie Blanche" Edna Phillips "Letterbox" and Alan Price "Just Busking",