The Farr Family

This Is the Blog of the Farr family, Sam and Wendy Farr and their Daughters Nichola and Helen plus their husbands Andy Higby and David Mattock. They all live in the Bath Area. Sam works as a freelance photographer after taking voluntary redundancy from The Bath Chronicle after 20 years, Andy is a freelance Manager for various Charities and David a Computer programmer. David and Helen have our two Granddaughters, Tabitha and Lottie they can be seen at www.themattocks.com.

Sunday, April 30, 2006

Climbing Frame


Tabitha checking the monkey run on her birthday climbing frame.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Doctor Who

I found time to see Dr Who Tonight, it was full of familiar faces including local actor Anthony Head as Mr Finch.
Anthony lives a couple of miles from our village; I bump into him or photograph him about half a dozen times a year
His evil headmaster character in School Reunion was very different from the Prime Minister in Little Britain.
But tonight's Photograph is a Dr Who Assistant from 1977 (Louise Jameson, Leela in the 1977 Dr Who series with Tom Baker)
I was lucky enough to photograph her in May 2004 when she was recording at BBC Audio books in Bath.

Friday, April 28, 2006


Tiny Topsy

Thursday, April 27, 2006


Tiny Tim

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Carriage Ride


Young Nicky and Helen take an evening carriage ride through Swanage.

Tuesday, April 25, 2006


Over the years I have photographed hundreds of motor accidents.
This is without a doubt the worst Mini crash, I don't remember the details but it must have fatal for somebody.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Air Ambulance


The local Air Ambulances use Lansdown cricket club as the landing pad for at the Royal United Hospital.
Sometimes when I'm photographing cricket, the blue light starts flashing and the players come off for about half an hour till the helicopter leaves.
Last year I had to go back three times, as every time I arrived and photographed a match the helicopter turned up again.
I shouldn't complain because it could be your loved one in need of urgent treatment.
It must have been busy on the roads today as the Somerset and Wiltshire Air ambulances were there at the same time.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Tabitha's Party


It was Tabitha's 3rd birthday party today.
Look HERE for another 56 party pictures.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

The Grass is always greener


This goat managed to get its head stuck in the fence, in an attempt to get to better grass.
A member of staff had to come and release it.

Friday, April 21, 2006

David's new camera


The Norwood Pigs line up for David's new camera.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Piggy Love


"We Love You Mummy"
Norwood Farm again, Picture Sam Farr

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Norwood Farm


We had a trip to Norwood Rare Breeds Farm today for Tabitha's third birthday.
Here's Wendy moving in to makes sure the sheep just eats the food not Tabitha.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

High Wire Act


An engineer rests on the high tension lines before climbing the insulators nearly 300 feet above the river at the Taymar crossing in Devon.
He had just been out in the little cart to check the state of the lines and fittings.
Picture Sam Farr


Monday, April 17, 2006

Pigeon Catching


This young man was busy chasing the pigeons in the Kingston Parade today, something most young Bathonians have done.
When I was young the pigeon population was kept under control easily and cheaply.
A man came around in the early hours of the morning, with a powerful light mounted on an air rifle.
He would shoot the pigeons sleeping on the Pumproom and made a living selling the pigeons.
It was a quick cheap and humane way of controlling the large numbers of pigeons, then someone spotted him and complained and he was stopped.
They have tried trapping and feeding drugged pigeon food but nothing is as effective as the old way.
And now the problem is the noisy seagulls that plague the town.


Sunday, April 16, 2006

Patricia Hewitt MP


Wendy always had an eye for talent, when she was doing her Certificate in Management Studies at the City of Bath College in 1993.
Her final project was to organise a conference to highlight the opportunities for women returning to work.
She invited the little-known deputy director of the Institute for Public Policy Research to speak.
I remember well that we went to the café in Kingsmead Square for tea while she waited for her train.
She was later made Secretary of State for Health the RT.Hon. Patricia Hewitt MP.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Combe Hay


We live in the little village of Combe Hay near Bath.
And I have just come back from my second hot-air balloon ride of the week.
So here's tonight's picture of the village taken at 7.20pm

Friday, April 14, 2006

Easter Egg Hunt


Tabithas Easter egg Hunt, was the first thing to organise today, here she is spotting a chocolate Easer Bunny.


But almost getting beaten to it by Storm.


But Tabitha beat her to it!

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Topsy and Tim


About 25 years ago we bought our girls a pair of Terrier Jack Russell cross puppies they christened them Topsy and Tim.
They are sadly long gone, but Tim is remembered on my business card, and the picture always causes a smile.
Here are some out-takes from the original photo session.






Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Good Friends


I saw this little group about 30 years ago in Combe Hay Lane on the way to work.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Bath Stone Mines


My last nights picture of the worksite at Firs Field Combe Down in Bath, where preparations are being made to infill the 20 hectare site of old Bath stone mines.
The mines, which have had roof falls in the past will be stabilised mainly by infilling with a foam concrete mix plus aggregate limestone in water sensitive areas.
Archaeologically important areas will be filled with sand and bat habitats will be protected. The foam will be pumped in under pressure, filling the voids and bonding with the stone, and then set hard to provide a firm foundation and support.
When the infilling starts they will be pumping an average of 1,000m3 of concrete per day.
More mine pictures Here

Monday, April 10, 2006

Mini Rottweiler


This mini Rottweiler was guarding a van for his master today.
Can I apologise to all of you who came to this page in error (about 6 a day), When I joked over this picture of a small dog guarding his masters van, it didn’t dawn on me that there were really Mini Rottweilers.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Monkey Business


Nicky and Helen wait for the Tarzan film to start, with a friend.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Bath from a very tall ladder


In August 1983 I was walking up Stall Street and found Red Watch from Bath Fire Station practicing with a turntable ladder.
After a 30-second lesson firefighter Graham Davis took my old Sigma Fish-eye lens up to the top.
These are a couple of his pictures.


Friday, April 07, 2006


Local elections will be coming round soon, so here's a join up of the count in Bath Guildhall.

Thursday, April 06, 2006


Tabitha checks her sun hat ready for summer.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Rare Terry Pratchett pictures

I notice the government are having a bird flu emergency exercise today.
When I worked for the old Central Electricity Generating Board they had regular exercises to test the systems.
This one was at Oldbury Power Station simulating an emergency at Berkeley Power Station.
The whole day was taken very seriously; senior staff and press officer were flown in by helicopter, as the roads would be blocked by traffic moving out of the area.
People were given questions to phone in on the emergency lines to keep the staff busy.
Wendy my wife had to phone in as the Princess Royal's lady-in-waiting asking if the horses at Gatcombe Park were safe!
They had regular press conferences with staff playing the part of the press asking yet more questions of the panel of police, station managers and scientists.
While the press officer stalked the stage making sure the senior police officer didn't do an Ian Blair.
The press officer was Terry Pratchett, who was already starting to be well-known as an author.
He had written Colour of Magic and it had been serialised in Woman's Hour.
These rare glimpses of Pterry at work have never been published.



More unusual pictures of Terry HERE

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

South Coast Skittles


Sometimes when you're a freelance you get offered an assignment that sounds boring.
But you have no other work booked and a wife two daughters, a vasectomy and two ponies to support so you take it anyway.
So off I went to Marchwood Power Station social club on the South coast to photograph a skittles match, to my surprise they played the game in a very different way to the way we play in Somerset.
Holding the ball in both hands they would fall forward, throwing the ball at the last moment.




Monday, April 03, 2006

Noel Edmunds


A young Noel Edmunds probably at the peak of his fame, the first time round.
He was hired by the Central Electricity Generating Board in 1985 to host the Electroquiz, a quiz for health & safety and electricity fanatics.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Proud Grandad


Sam and Lottie today
Picture Helen Mattock

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Nikon in the hall of mirrors


The Farr family visit the hall of mirrors on the pier at Weston Super Mare.
Look at the camera the original Nikon F, no meter no auto focus.
And even after 25 years the lenses still fit the latest digital cameras.

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