Post by uforn on Dec 6, 2011 13:15:08 GMT 1
Cumberland Spaceman Photographer Dies
Tributes have been paid to one of Carlisle’s best loved characters, Jim Templeton, who has died aged 91.
Solway Spaceman
Army medic, fireman, photographer, community volunteer, local historian, author, and a raconteur... In his long and colourful life, Carlisle born James Parker Templeton – Jim to his friends – excelled at all these things and more besides.
He unwittingly achieved world-wide fame in May 1964 when he photographed his daughter Elizabeth, then aged five, during a family picnic at Burgh-by-Sands.
What captured everybody’s attention was the image that loomed in the photo’s background, a mysterious figure clad in a white space-suit. Even now, the picture, published and talked about around the world, remains a complete mystery. But as Elizabeth said yesterday, Jim packed far more in his life than his passion for photography.
He told much of his fascinating life story in his autobiography, A Carlisle Lad, published in 2007.
In it he described how he had enjoyed an idyllic childhood during the 1920s as he grew up in Belle Vue village. “Everyone in the village knew everybody else, and they all helped one another in the hard times,” wrote Jim.
His father Dan had graduated from the Glasgow School of Art, and became a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Water Colour Society. Jim inherited his talent, and continued to paint even into his 90s.
Jim began his working life at the textile factory next to Dixon’s Chimney (where his father was a boss), qualifying as a designer and engineer.
His life course altered dramatically with the advent of World War Two, and Jim, already a qualified first aid instructor with St John Ambulance Brigade, was drafted into the Army as a medic. He achieved sergeant rank, and saw action in North Africa.
He eventually joined the Allied invasion at Salerno, Italy, where troops had to brave “hellish” gunfire as they stormed the beach.
For three terrifying days, Jim and a group of 30 casualties were held prisoner by the 16th Panzer Division.
They were rescued by a group of Gurkhas.
After the war, Jim joined the ambulance service in Carlisle, but in 1949 it merged with the city’s fire service – and so Jim began a new career, based at Warwick Street fire station.
“I enjoyed every minute,” said Jim after his retirement.
His service, which involved dealing with tragedies as well as rescues, earned him the Queen’s Long Service Medal. He was also awarded the Queen Victoria Long Service Medal for his 35 years of dedicated service with St John Ambulance Brigade.
As well as writing 14 books, taking pictures, and being a keen fisherman, he amassed a huge archive of local photos, which chronicle Carlisle life.
Speaking yesterday, his daughter Elizabeth said: “I think his passion for photography came after his father bought him a camera when he was a young boy.
“He carried a camera all through the war and was always interested in it. He had a very busy life, and always enjoyed life to the full.
“We have many happy memories of him. He was a happy man who had a heart of gold and he never thought ill of anybody, and he would talk to anybody, from the rag and bone man to royalty.”
As for the spaceman, Jim was always open-minded, pointing out that the photo, professionally developed by Kodak, was not a fake.
Jim, whose wife Annie died in August 2004, also leaves his daughters Frances and Anne and six grandchildren.
Jim’s funeral service is likely to be on Monday, followed by a cremation. Full details will appear in a News & Star death notice this week.
Source:
www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/tributes-paid-to-late-carlisle-man-who-took-photo-of-cumberland-spaceman-1.901814?referrerPath=home