In a national newspaper career spanning five decades, John Downing, seven times British press photographer of the year, travelled the world capturing conflicts, natural disasters and celebrities. But it is this image, of patients at a cottage hospital being rescued after severe flooding in Surrey in August 1968, that he considers the nearest thing to a “definitive picture”.
“There’s such a lot happening in it; every part of it tells a story and you don’t need any words to know what is going on,” Downing says. “As a news photographer, you’re the eyes of the reader, so you’re always trying to catch the defining moment. For me, the defining moment in this image is the elderly woman lighting a cigarette for another elderly patient while they are being rescued.”
When Downing, 79, was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer earlier this year, he told his wife, classical pianist Anita D’Attellis, that his one regret was that he had never had a book of his photographs published. This prompted friends to launch a crowdfunding campaign. Such is the respect for Downing, who has mentored many youngsters starting out as photographers, it hit the £8,000 target within six hours and went on to raise £32,000. The result is John Downing: Legacy, to be published on Thursday, containing 150 photographs, including this one.
“I’d never seen this photograph until I was going through my pictures for the book,” says Downing. “At the time, I sent the film rolls back with a courier and the newspaper used a different one, so it was a surprise to me when I found it. I’m quite proud of it.”
Welsh-born Downing is philosophical about his illness, which specialists have told him has been caused by asbestos. “It’s disappointing it’s incurable, but I’ve had a great life full of amazing experiences.”
John Downing: Legacy will be available to buy at bluecoatpress.co.uk
