LOTS of interest has been shown in a set of photographs which were displayed at a Barnsley Photographic Exhibition in the 1950s.

They came to light in the loft of the home of exhibitor Douglas Long during a clean-out and have recently been published in Memories.

The photographs were of colleagues of Mr Long which he had taken while he was working in the scientific department of the NCB No 6 Area HQ based at Ardsley House.

Former NCB employee Margaret Rose Bamford (nee Hemingway) recognised herself. She started working at Ardsley House, when she was 16 after leaving Barnsley Technical College.

She worked in the production department along with colleagues Richard Starkey and Charlie Brinsley. Mr Long was a keen amateur photographer and took many photographs, including those of Margaret and her husband Ron.

He entered them, along with other photographs, in the portrait section of the Barnsley Photographic Exhibition staged 1957. He also took photographs of Margaret and Ron on their wedding day.

Mr Long won first prize with a photograph of Margaret and the same photograph was exhibited again some time later in the Cooper Art Gallery at a time when they were displaying past exhibition winners etc.

"Douglas was a very accomplished photographer and he also took landscape photographs," said Margaret.

We also heard from Helen Heath who recognised her mother Jean Heath (nee Marsden) on one of the photographs, also taken by Douglas Long.

Jean worked alongside Mr Long at the NCB offices. She later went on to became a teacher. "We were delighted to see the photograph," said Helen.

The photograph was awarded first prize in the Beginners' Portrait Prints section.