Around 300 people packed the parish church, Christ Church Pitsmoor, last month for the funeral of Richard Hanson, who died on 14th August at the age of 45. He had been battling leukaemia for a year.
The service, led by Bishop Martyn Snow, paid tribute to Richard’s involvement in the community and also his international work as a photographer.
During a career in which he photographed Blair, Blunkett, Hague, Nelson Mandela, Mohammed Ali and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Richard’s work took him to over 40 countries and included assignments in the Haitian earthquake and Rwandan refugee crisis. Much of this was inspired by a commitment to global justice and a significant portion of his work involved recording the projects of the aid organization, Tearfund. Nationally, his work appeared in most of the quality press, and exhibitions such as his innovative ‘Scars’ project demonstrated his talent.
Richard may be better known to the Pitsmoor community through his work closer to home including the ‘Our Spital Hill’ images that greet you as you pass under the Wicker Arches and grace Spital Hill, as well as the work he did for The Messenger and his photographs at Pye Bank School.
His work within the local community also included serving as a governor at Firs Hill School, organizing a youth club at Christ Church and his work with ASSIST, supporting destitute asylum seekers. He was an active member of Christ Church Pitsmoor.
Richard was once asked how he managed to make something like a dull shed look as good as it did in the Christmas card he produced last year. His response was ironically indicative of both his deep Christian belief and his skill at getting a photo: “I am always looking for the light… When I’ve got the light, I know I've got it.
He will be greatly missed by our community and by his wife Ingrid and children, Jess and Isaac.
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