Mourning the loss of an old friend
I have just heard that a great mate and a great photographer John Reavenall has died. He took early retirement at the same time I did at the end of 2008 and was looking forward to a life of playing with his beloved steam trains.
I worked with John for more than 30 years and in the days when writers and photographers went out together we used to be a regular team. We spent days covering fires in the 1976 drought, hiking through Hopwas Wood and Cannock Chase with teams of firemen, even doing a bit of fire beating.
Obviously the job also obviously involved copious rehydration in a number of country hostelries. I also remember a very pleasant, summer day in the Cotswolds on an oil exploration story which for some reason also involved several Cornettos which we managed to get through expenses as refreshments.
He was always like a friendly, shambling bear but he had the ability to put anyone at ease when he took their photo. He had a brilliant eye for the unusual, dramatic or just plain old stunning photograph and he was a superb hard news snapper when he had to be. One of the best.
He was a lovely bloke and if you knew him feel free to add your memories of Reavers or just add a tribute.
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Roger Clarke - Birmingham’s very own Grumpy Old Man on what gets right up his nose.
Really saddened to hear the news. One of the characters we were lucky to know. Always a smile. RIP John.
Very upset too after hearing the sad news about John from his great friend and equally loveable former snapper Pete Robinson. Between them they lit up the darkroom (and beyond) on many a day with their tremendous humour - particularly their Goon impressions.
John was everything Roger describes and told me a few weeks ago how much he missed the daily contact with his Post & Mail "chums".
Very sadly Reavers "old bean" - we're all going to miss you.
Phil Addis