Don's lifelong passion for photography

A picture paints a thousand words, and that’s certainly the case for Don who has had a lifelong passion for photography and has 1,000s of photos to prove it!  

Don has been under the care of the therapies team at Saint Francis Hospice, and it was during one of his visits, that he shared his fascinating story.  

I was born in Livingstone, Zambia and I got my first camera when I was around 11 years old. There were no opportunities to study photography at that time, so you learned from the hard knocks of life. I started off with a box camera and worked up to a top of the range Hasselblad. As the cameras improved, so did my photos.   

I've had some amazing experiences

I’ve had some amazing experiences such as taking photos of a mine 2 to 3 miles underground. I remember one time, taking photos 20,000ft in the air from a plane of a train full of dynamite that had exploded. 

When I got a job as a customs officer, I was transferred to Mozambique. I joined the Photography Society and the people I met gave me ideas on how to improve my work, so my photography came on leaps and bounds.  

Don with complementary therapist, Sharon Williams

Later, when I married my wife Pauline and we had our first child, we moved to Durban. There I did a few professional photography jobs, at functions and weddings and even had a job taking photos for a book.  

We eventually moved to South Africa where we lived for 30 years. I continued to take photos in my free time and was chairman of the Photo Society. 

Moving to England to be with our family

After our three children grew up and left home, we decided to move to England to join them. We’ve now lived here for 25 years, and I have taken my best photos since I’ve lived here.  

I love London as a city. So much happens in London, it’s such a fascinating place.  

I was introduced to Saint Francis Hospice by my cardiac nurse. I’d come out of hospital, and she knew the hospice offered exercise classes. 

I have a lot of fun at the hospice

I would not swap the hospice for anything. The hospice only has to say ‘would you like.to do this..’ and I say ‘yes! 

I am blind in one eye and I am so grateful to the volunteer drivers who pick me up and take me to the classes and then back home.  They are very caring. 

Coming to the hospice is the best thing I have ever done. I enjoy the company as much as it is exercise, and I have a lot of fun.