We're not all cloth caps and clogs

When that happened to photographer Reg Whittam, rather than reacting with indignation, it set him thinking.

And he set to work appealing through local newspapers and television for people to come forward to have their picture taken for his photographic impression of the area.

After 20 years as a commercial photographer at Garth Dawson's studio in Accrington, the last ten as owner, the 41-year-old had always dreamed of having a personal project on the side for his own fulfilment.

He said: "I was doing a wedding in the Midlands one day and my accent obviously stood out. A lot of the guests were taking the mickey out of it and going 'Ey up lad' and asking where my whippet was.

"I thought how sad it was that stereotype of people around here still persists because the ones I know are nothing like that. There are so many interesting individuals and such diversity too.

"I'd been thinking about a major project like this for quite a while but never really knew how to go about it. I have a real habit of prevaricating but I was speaking to a friend and he urged me just to go for it. I really needed that someone to kick me up the backside!"

His vision was a selection of portraits, strictly non-commercial, and each tailored to capture the essence of his subject.

"I had about 70 replies but the ones I chose had to be that extra bit idiosyncratic I suppose. I wanted people who were a little bit leftfield. I've always had an empathy with people like that - those who fell like they don't have to conform to what society deems to be normal."

Over the months, he visited people and had some come into his studio - the vast majority of whom he had never clapped eyes on before.

"When I met them for the first time things immediately struck me and ideas started suggesting themselves."

To dispel the clothcap image Reg selected people like Asian undertaker, Rashid Iqbal of Iqbal's Funeral Services, Furthergate, Blackburn; Dorothy McGregor, 70, of Accrington, who has spent a lifetime in caring professions as a nurse, midwife, youth worker and probation officer; a champion line-dancer, accountant turned coalman, Hell's Angel - the list goes on.

He said: "I wanted to capture their individuality not necessarily a likeness of the person. I wanted to get away from the traditional portrait. In other words I wanted to get a feel of the person rather than the image.

"Another important thing for me is that the pictures shouldn't have titles - not even the subject's name. I want the people who come to see to decide for themselves what they are about and who the person really is."

Having spent a considerable amount of time, money and effort on the project the outcome is better than he even imagined.

Today it will be open to the general public at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, between 9am and 5pm.

Another backer, the Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington which lent him 30 frames saving around £1,000, has agreed to show the exhibition early in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Reg has agreed to put up portraits up for sale to the subjects and will donate half the proceeds to the Maundy Grange Relief Trust on Abbey Street in Accrington which provides a 24-hour seven days a week service supplying material goods to those in need.

PROFILES:

Dorothy MacGregor

Age: 70

Lives: St Ledger Court, Accrington.

Brief history: Originally from Blackburn, Dorothy has spent a lifetime in caring professions as a nurse, midwife, health visitor, youth worker and then 25 years in the probation service in Accrington covering Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley.

After retiring in 1995, she spent a year working with Father Jim McCartney's THOMAS (Those on the Margins of Society) organisation helping ex-offenders in Blackburn.

Despite longing to spend her retirement in quiet spiritual contemplation, in 1998, she set up the The Maundy Relief Trust, a Christian organisation based on Abbey Street in Accrington, after friends urged her to help plug a poverty gap in Hyndburn. It provides immediate relief of material needs - food, clothing, nappies, bedding - to those in need in the area.

She lives a consecrated life after taking vows and her religious name is Sister Benedicta.

Quote: "I owe everything to the people of Hyndburn who have always been so wonderful."

Gloria Ford-Marshall

Age: 57

Lives: Blackburn Road, Darwen.

Brief history: Married to Stan Marshall with three sons and three stepsons, Gloria, originally from Blackburn, is a former nursery nurse. Now a housewife, she is fascinated with all things to do with Western American culture.

A few years ago she took up line dancing to meet new people after being divorced for many years and in no time at all made it through to the British Championships last 30, out of 600 competitors, at her first attempt in 2000. She achieved her gold medal for line dancing and has been known to sing a few Patsy Cline numbers at line-dancing get-togethers.

An expert on Native American and Western clothing, she has now bought a horse Queenie and is now learning Western trick riding.

Quote: "I'm the sort of person who when they get a hobby really throws themselves into it."

Arthur Lee

Age: 74

Lives: Essex Avenue, Burnley.

Brief history: Born and bred in Burnley, Arthur has led a diverse life career-wise to say the least. He worked for 35 years in accountancy all over Lancashire, including a spell at Mullards, and in France for a spell. He lectured at Nelson and Colne College in the 1970s where he spent the lengthy summer holidays taking HGV lessons as it was something he was always interested in doing. It evolved into a job working for K Steels in Rawtenstall for 13 years before he retired in 1993.

In retirement, in a bid to keep himself active he got a job making one delivery a day for CB Coal.

Quote: "People say how do you lift coal about at your age but once you've got it on your back it's quite easy. If I'm working on Tuesday I'll have to clean myself up though!"