IN the old days, of course, the art of the photographer was all very different. No digital cameras that fit in the palm of your hand and weigh not much more than a bright idea.

The amateur Edwardian snapper needed some strength as well as inspiration.

Carting the kit about was a man's job and it's no surprise that many didn't venture too far from home.

When they did, it was usually by bike and it's well documented that the roots of Worcestershire Camera Club stretch down to the activities of Worcester Tricycle Club at the end of the 19th century.

The trike obviously proved a far more suitable machine to carry the bulk of the "flash, bang, wallop" cameras than its two wheeled cousin. Which presumably would have wobbled a bit under the weight with the chance of everything ending up in a roadside ditch.

But while the camera club was founded in 1890, it took members 68 years to publish their first club magazine. Why isn't clear, although my newspaper experience tells me that photographers love taking pictures but, almost without exception, find caption-writing a bind and it could be that for more than half a century the club couldn't find anyone keen enough to put together a few words.

In 1958 someone joined the club who would. Cyril Kershaw arrived in Worcester from Bath as chief assistant water engineer to the city council and a keen amateur photographer to boot.

Attending his first meeting of Worcestershire Camera Club, he was promptly appointed founder editor of the proposed club magazine. His protestations that he had no journalistic aspirations fell on deaf ears which, as it turned out, were just as well because under Cyril's guidance a very successful club mag was launched. It was sad irony that he died recently, just as the magazine was celebrating its 50th birthday. But not before he had contributed one last article to the Golden Anniversary issue.

In it he articulated the thoughts of club and society magazine editors everywhere. "In my final editorial in November, 1960, I bemoaned the fact that in three years only four members apart from the committee had contributed copy," he wrote. "Have things changed?" Is the moon green?

There have been many editors since Cyril's initial tenure and Photonews, as the mag is called, has continued to chart the progress of amateur photography in Worcestershire over the years, which, I am pleased to report, is flourishing.

"I wouldn't necessarily say we are bucking the trend," said club chairman Peter Jepson, "but at a time when I know some other photographic societies are struggling, our membership has grown considerably. We did go down to around 50 some years ago, but now we have more than 100 paid up members and regularly attract 60 plus to our weekly club nights.

"The advent of digital photography may have something to do with it, because now there is instant photography'. People no longer have the trial of taking their rolls of film to be printed. The whole process is much more immediate. Although the flip side is you probably end up taking far more photographs than you need. It's easy to get carried away." The 50 years of Photonews covers a period that has seen a sea change in equipment and techniques, from the days when the Box Brownie ruled, through the Polariod era to today's digitals. Of course what hasn't changed is the photographer's eye for a picture. Or the luck of being in just the right place at the right time.

That's why the camera club's regular presentations, discussions and competitions are so well attended. Members are keen to look and learn at the meetings every Tuesday evening at 7.45pm in St Stephen's Church Hall, Droitwich Road, Worcester.

If you want to join them, pop along. Your camera and equipment will probably fit in your pocket.

Gone are the days when it needed a pannier on the back of your trike or maybe a train of pack mules.

l Worcestershire Camera Club new members secretaries are John Lancaster on 01905 391238 or Malcolm Haynes on 01905 333657.