The Society’s March meeting saw the most welcome return of Bob Green with “More Steam in the Landscape”. Bob’s fame as an expert photographer of steam had obviously gone before him as the number attending was an all-time record for the Society and we welcomed several new faces.

Possibly Bob’s favourite location is Scotland’s West Highland line and, in particular, the Mallaig Extension: we delighted in a plethora of spectacular views of this most scenic of routes. Our speaker is well known for the lengths to which he is prepared to go to get the ‘ultimate shot’ and we enjoyed so many masterpieces taken from the upper reaches of pretty inaccessible hillsides. In complete contrast, Bob’s complete mastery of his art was shown in the townscapes of the Pennines and the approaches to Waterloo. Back to more rural locations and more exquisite shots along the South Devon coast, on the Settle and Carlisle, in Cornwall and on the Cambrian Coast left the audience spellbound.

Whilst Bob is well known for his photography of steam on the main lines, he does not neglect the heritage railways and so we enjoyed some extraordinary views of the East Lancashire, the Severn Valley, the North Yorkshire Moors, the Ffestiniog, the Worth Valley and the recently-opened Welsh Highland. Bob’s skill lies in transposing the ordinary’ snapshot’ into something approaching a very good painting – techniques to which few in the audience could even aspire.

Our next meeting takes place on Monday 12th April (note that this is the second Monday in the month) when Chris Schroeder, a member of the Kinlet Hall support crew, will give a digital presentation, entitled “Tyseley and the Shakespeare Express”.

All meetings start at 7.30 at the Birchley Social Club, Brunel Road, Oldbury: everyone is welcome and no membership is required. For further information, contact George Richards (0121 559 4888), Alan Shenton (0121 559 3200) or Alan Atkinson (01562 886549).