life - PROPERTY - ISLAND HOMES
Left to right: Olympus MD Graeme Chapman,
Iain Lewis from Olympus studios, Tom Lichfield
and Brian Hinton, in front of a photograph of
Lady Diana Spencer, with her bridesmaids.
Dimbola launches
new exhibition
Patrick Lichfield’s three
children Tom, Rose and Eloise
(pictured below)came to
Dimbola Lodge to launch their
father’s first major retrospective
exhibition which will be on
display there until late June.
Administrator John Holsburt
explained that the show features
many photographs previously
unseen outside his private
archive, as well as some of
Patrick’s favourite cameras and
other family memorabilia.
Tom Lichfield, the photographer’s
son, said of his late father that
“he was immensely proud of his
association with Dimbola. It
seems particularly appropriate
that such a special tribute should
take place here, considering the
historical links between Julia
Margaret Cameron and our family”
and paid particular tribute to the
12
friendship with Olympus MD
Graeme Chapman – “we know he
relished the many happy hours
they spent together, sharing not
only a passion for photography but
also many amusing anecdotes”.
Earl Lichfield formally opened
the Olympus Gallery at Dimbola
ten years ago, and was a great
friend to the JMC Trust. One of
his own ancestors, Lady Florence
Anson, was photographed by
Mrs Cameron as a young girl.
Guests then repaired to
Farringford, where new co-owner
Rebecca Fitzgerald proudly showed
us Tennyson’s study – including a
carved fireplace including his and
his wife Emily’s initials entwined
in wood – and outlined her exciting
plans to return the house to its full
Victorian glory, and make it again a
centre of arts and cultural activity.
The whole event was sponsored
by Olympus, who hosted a lunch
for Lord Lichfield’s children, friends
and other JMC Trust sponsors
including Southern Vectis and the
Needles Pleasure Park. Dimbola
chairman Dr Brian Hinton said he
was delighted that through this
show the Trust could pay tribute
to a man who typified English
gentility and an understated
brilliance at his own chosen art
form. Dr Hinton also gave heartfelt
thanks to the Lichfield family for
their support, and to Olympus,
who are about to open a Victorian
costume room at Dimbola and
who are bringing some other of
their other star photographers in
the near future. These will include
Jon Nicholson’s behind the scenes
images of Formula One racing later
this year, and a major show by
Lord Snowdon next summer. .
Bottom photo: Rose, Tom and Eloise
in Tennyson’s study at Farringford.
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