INFORMATION

General Information

During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster & Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit the information page. If you find a caption is wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D J Clark.

Date: November 24th, 2000
Location: Various Locations

Photographer's Diary

24th November Afternoon with Hilton Dawson MP

Following the Grammar school I went on to Folly for a coffee and then wandered into Market Square for a Jacobite day. Hilton Dawson MP was there, as was a piper and few people in dress. We stood and watched the piper strike a tune and march round the fountain a few times. I was unaware of the tradition and got a reasonable image.

Returning to Folly for lunch, I later went to Hilton's office to begin the afternoon. I had known Hilton for many year's and enjoyed his company. This project had meant I had very good local knowledge and we enjoyed discussing a number of issues. After leaving the office and a chance meeting with Geraldine Smith (Morecambe MP) we drove up the hill to Central School. Hilton was to meet with a group of young people who quizzed him in detail about local issues. One girl got very angry at one point when she felt Hilton was avoiding the question.

Moving on we drove to a village outside Pilling to a public meeting on the bus schedule. Local residents were enraged as a bus company who cut the service from 4 buses to one a day. Hilton had called a meeting to discuss the issue. The room was packed with pensioners, no room to sit I squeezed into a corner and shot the proceedings as they developed. Hilton was patient and calm. The Bus company gave in and agreed to putting the buses back. This had been a successful day.

I asked to be dropped off on the way home. Hilton was rushing to the gym before facing the Countryside Alliance who were after Hilton's blood for going against blood sports. "The crazy thing is, there is no fox hunting in our district" Hilton commented. I had to get home to meet my father who had been delayed by 4 hours on a train journey from London.

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