A very enjoyable first half to our winter programme augurs well for the second half now starting, with a full series of weekly meetings planned through to late April.

Membership has again increased year on year, meetings have been well attended and competitions in particular have enjoyed a high level of participation and with a high quality of images being entered.

Success appears to breed success.

Notable features of the programme going forward include presentations from external speakers such as James Brew, who will be showing us some of his work, and club members such as Diane McCudden (see below), Antony Hamilton (The Camino de Campostela in northern Spain), Lara Howe (travels to Antarctica) and Tony Curtis (topic to be confirmed).

Two off-island competitions with UK clubs are always eagerly anticipated.

The first is with North West Bristol where the two societies hold separate events, with the two scores resulting being amalgamated to decide the overall winner, whilst our now almost traditional and very popular battle with the Rochdale and Oldham clubs is judged and videoed professionally at Oldham and subsequently shown here on island as a film show.

Practical sessions include the welcome return of local professional Andrew Barton LBIPP LMPA, who will organise and mentor a training evening, probably on the topic of table-top photography, whilst we also intend another portrait session using studio lighting equipment.

The programme also includes several of our regular competitions for members, culminating in April with the Annual, this year to be judged by Rod Wheelans MPAGB FRPS MFIAP, a well-known and highly qualified judge from Dumfries who will also be showing us some of his own work.

The society notes with sadness the recent passing of John Neil, a long-term member of the society and who served as president in the years 1988 and 1995. Our sympathy goes to his family.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 15, when Diane McCudden will be giving a presentation on her visit to the Masai Mara on the Kenyan/Tanzanian border.

The society meets on Wednesday evenings at the Art Society building in Withington Road, Douglas, starting at 7.30pm.

All meetings are open to the public and all are given a very warm welcome, non-members with an entry fee of £2. Full details of our programme can be found on our website www.iomps.com. Meantime, we would wish all our readers a happy New Year.

Chris Blyth