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As a Photo Historian, I have long been
interested in researching and collecting the stereographic works of
Thomas Richard Williams, a masterful but modest 19th-century British
photographer. As he shunned the limelight, uncovering details of
Williams' life and work was a challenge - a challenge which has been
admirably undertaken by Dr. Brian May and Elena Vidal, the results of
which are soon to be published.
T. R. Williams (1824-1871) had studios in London. He made stereographic
photos of Crystal Palace in 1851, and again in 1854, when it reopened at
Sydenham. As a much sought-after portrait photographer, he received his
first royal commission in 1856. His consummate artistic skill was
evident in his beautifully composed stereoscopic still life studies, but
perhaps his greatest contribution to photography is a series of
stereoscopic views entitled, "Scenes In Our Village", which documented
village life, complete with church and belltower. After a long search,
May and Vidal finally identified the village as Hinton Waldrist in
Oxfordshire.
It is hoped that someday a quarter peal can be rung at Hinton to honor
Williams. In the meantime, however, it was decided that this nearly
forgotten photographer should be memorialized with a method named in his
honor. To make the quarter-peal even more relevant to Dr. May, instead
of starting with rounds, ringing began with "Queens", in honor of his
band, "Queen".
Paula Fleming, Washington Ringing Society
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The quarter peal band, from left to right.
Front row: P Fleming, E Donnen, A Taft; back row: T Rice, C Rock, M
Harrison.
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