Bowes Railway Museum Competition

Message From Bowes Railway Museum

Museum Life Through a Lens!

We recently welcomed the members of Gateshead Camera Club, Wickham  Camera club and Washington Camera Club to Bowes Railway Museum and with a group of such gifted creatives on site for the 1940 weekend, it wasn’t long before some stunningly beautiful images emerged.

From atmospheric landscapes to moody monochromes and eye-catching close up’s, the portfolio of photographs captured the incredible potential of the site to offer up some striking views.  

Following a great day of photography,  members of the groups each submitted an image which was put forward for Bowes Railway volunteers to choose the one which best captured the essence of the 1940 weekend at the museum. Bowes volunteer Martin Blyth designed and created an original trophy for the competition winner.

Congratulations to club member Sarah Emma Scott  Foggan who won with a spectacular image taken at the 1940 weekend  of a Sweetheart and a Air man. Sarah  received her trophy  from  Sandra Mitchell at a celebration event held at the museum.

All 10 photographs submitted for the competition have been donated to the museum and are on display and sale to raise money for the museum.

A big thank you to all the members of the camera clubs for their amazing work and we look forward to making the competition an annual event.

1st Sarah Emma Scott Foggan -  A Sweetheart and an Airman  (Whickham Club)

2nd Brian Denham  - SS officer ( Gateshead Club )

3rd  Will Ireland -  Designing Queens ( Washington Club )

1st - Sarah Emma Scott Foggon

We installed our 'book theme' print exhibition in Low Fell Community Library today 25 July 2026.

It's on until 4 September, please call in, Mon-Fri 09:30 - 17:00, Sat 09:30 - 12:30.

Most prints are available for sale with profits going to Gateshead Camera Club and the Library.

2025 - 26 Presentation Evening 

Queen Elizabeth Hospital 

(February 2026)

Victoria popped in to the new Colposcopy/Oncology Ward at the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hospital yesterday morning.  Many of our prints have now been put up and really do look fantastic, brightening up the corridors. The QE would like me to pass on their sincere thanks to all members who kindly submitted images. 

These images of the North East will generate interest and will hopefully lessen the anxiety of patients on the ward. 

Images are also currently being selected by hospital staff for waiting rooms on wards 12, 14 and Critical Care. 

I'm sure you will agree it is a great way for our club to support the local community.

During our summer break we've enjoyed several outings including; The Locomotion at Shildon, Seaham, The Hoppings, Bowes Railway Museum and coming soon Hareshaw Linn.

We were invited to take part in a project at Bowes Railway Museum which would become an annual competition and a long lasting partnership between both our organisations.  The aim of this project was to produce images that GCC could display at the museum in order to attract new members and raise the profile of both organisations.

Following a great day of photography on 5 June, ten GCC members each submitted 3 images. From those images, 1 from each member was put forward for Bowes volunteers to choose a winner.  Bowes volunteer created a stunning trophy for the competition winner.

We celebrated on 19 August with tea and cake at a ceremony hosted by Bowes to launch our gallery and announce the competition winner.

Huge congratulations to long time GCC member Bob Stokell for winning the inaugural Bowes Trophy and a massive well done to everyone who took part in this project. We presented the Bowes volunteer who created the trophy with an image of himself working at the blacksmiths forge.

Thank you so much to all the members of Bowes Railway Museum for working on this project with us, providing guided tours and being incredibly hospitable. 

Well done Ashlee and Adrian for organising this project.  It's has been a huge success and we’re looking forward to next year’s competition.

You can find more information about Bowes Railway Museum, opening hours, history, tours etc. at; https://bowesrailway.uk/

In July 2025 we installed an exhibition of our prints in Low Fell Library with a book titles theme.  The exhibition continued until September 2025.

Ashlee, Victoria and Adrian have refreshed our prints on the angels at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead to cheer up patients, visitors and staff. 

St Oswald's Charity have selected the following 4 images taken by 3 GCC members to be included in their 2026 calendar which will be on sale later this year.

St Oswald's work to improve quality of life for everyone, of all ages, in the North East who are living with a progressive life-limiting condition, and for their families and carers too.  Please support this good cause.

Margaret Annable's ‘Misty Causeway’ image has been chosen as the October picture in the My Northumberland calendar and is exhibited in  Alnwick Playhouse as part of the What a Wonderful World Festival .

https://www.facebook.com/100080169657078/posts/457190853629899/?app=fbl

Presentation Evening 2024

Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Exhibition

We've been working in partnership with Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust on a permanent exhibition at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The aim is to promote art and wellbeing through photography.  And, to brighten up the hospital for staff, patients and visitors.

Our exhibition finally launched on 30 November 2023 as part of the charity's Light up a Life Remembrance Service. 

We don't want to wish anyone ill, but if you're getting treatment or visiting relatives, have a look downstairs in the Atrium near Costa.

Thanks to all Gateshead Camera Club members for donating your prints and mounts.  Hopefully this is just the start of a long term partnership with the Trust.

As always, new members are welcome to join Gateshead Camera Club and possibly get their images displayed in our ongoing exhibition.

22 - 23 Exhibition