1919-1998
“Ernie”and Rene Rickett moved to 24 School Lane after they retired and lived there together for about 20 years until Ernie’s death in 1998. Rene continued to live in the bungalow until her death in 2001. They were both founder members of the Sherington Short Mat Bowls Club in 1990 and enthusiastic players.
Ernie’s main passions, however, were photography and gardening. Wherever he went a camera was slung around his neck and a tripod was in his hand. He took numerous photographs of the village and was regarded as the unofficial Sherington photographer. Many of the photographs in the Historical Society’s archives were taken by Ernie and some of the most atmospheric are in the black and white medium, at which he excelled.
His daughter, Lindsay, recalls often having to stand somewhere for what seemed to her to be hours to provide the “human interest” in a scene he was trying to capture. She also remembers that the bathroom was often out of bounds to the family while Ernie developed, printed and enlarged his photographs!
A founder member of the Leyton Camera Club in 1952, he belonged to several portfolio circles and entered and won the Inter Federation Competition held by the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain. One of his photographs entitled “The Santa Fe Trail” was hung at the 29th Exhibition of the Central Association of Photographic Societies in London in 1963.
Although not a photographer, Rene enjoyed spending time in the garden, a pastime she continued after Ernie’s death.
SAQ – with thanks to an article written by Lindsay Gasper (nee Rickett) for an exhibition of Ernie’s work at the Church Fete in June, 2002.