David Brenchley a news photographer and the owner of Cornwall, UK based news photo agency Cornish Photonews has died. Here his friend and fellow photographer Colin Higgs remembers him:
Sad news for those who remember him, Dave Brenchley who owned and ran Cornish Photonews from the mid 1970s until about 2000, passed away in his sleep last night aged about 82.
Dave started as a BBC cameraman at Television Centre and then worked as a staff snapper at the Herts Advertiser, before buying Cornish Photonews in the 1970s.
In the 70s through to the end of the House Agreement in the 90s he had the only wire license in Cornwall and was well known to the nationals as a supplier of Cornish news pix. He also hosted many staff snappers who were sent to Cornwall, so they could wire their stuff from his shall we say “unique” house.
Anyone who had ever wired from 33 Kimberley Park Road, Falmouth, will never have forgotten the experience, of Dave’s wicked sense of humour, endless cups of disgusting instant coffee, thick cigar smoke and free flying parrots.
Dave had chosen to have a direct cremation, but there will be a memorial service in the near future.