Super snapper Colin Bermingham launches project to capture Wirral’s famous faces on film

Aug 17 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

A PHOTOGRAPHER from Bebington is launching an ambitious project to capture Wirral’s famous faces on film.

In 1991, portrait photographer Colin Bermingham spent months persuading politicians, actors, musicians and sporting stars to let him take their photos.

It culminated in a series of exhibitions showing images of big names from the decade like Elton Welsby, Bruce Grobbelar, Tranmere star Eric Nixon, Lynda Chalker and the last Viscount Leverhulme.

Twenty years on, Mr Bermingham wants to revisit the project and update it.

This time his wish list includes adopted or born and bred Wirralians Paul O’Grady, John Gorman, Patricia Routledge, OMD singer Andy McCluskey and Tranmere Rovers manager Les Parry.

Mr Bermingham, 58, said: “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It was 20 years ago so it’s probably about time.

“There are still loads of people out there who I’d like to photograph.

“But they don’t have to be major showbiz or sporting stars. I want to photograph the Mayor of Wirral but also people who might be well known in their community. For example I took a photo recently of Jack and Bill Fairs, who have just turned 93 and ran Fairs Cameras in Dacre Hill.

“The criteria is they have to be someone people have heard of but maybe they haven’t had a good photograph of them taken before.

“With respect to Wirral Conservative leader Jeff Green, I’ve never seen a good picture of him yet!”

Former electrician Mr Bermingham came up with the idea after photographing George Bush senior while working in America with his brother Philip, who runs a photographic studio in Washington.

He started by writing a letter to then-Wallasey MP Lynda Chalker – and says the project took off quickly once his famous faces discovered who else was involved.

The only person he was unable to secure for a photo was Hoylake-born Glenda Jackson.

He said: “I need about 20 people to say yes and I hope we can display them in the libraries or in the Pyramids in Birkenhead like last time.

“I hope I can get people from different walks of life, not just sports stars, because every picture does tell a story.

“All I can do is ask – the worst they can do is say no!”