Harold Burdekin
The following biographical note has been kindly provided by Glyn Lewis (pers. email to Alan Griffiths, 30 May 2014)
Harold Benjamin Burdekin, born at Sheffield, 19 April 1899. Educated at Rugby School and Tonbridge School. Served for two years in the Royal Field Artillery in the war of 1914-18. Seeking a career, was successively solicitor's clerk, bank clerk, wireless engineer.
Finally trained for photography. First prize in 1930 in Morning Post competition for his Race Against Time' (this photograph, which shows the statue of Boadicea racing in her chariot with the clock tower of Big Ben in the background, later became the opening photograph in London Night, Harold Burdekin's first published book in conjunction with John Morrison). Thereafter, took up photography professionally in a studio at The Barn, Reigate.
Associate of the Royal Photographic Society, 1931. Founder Fellow of the Institute of British Photographers, 1939. Published London Night (with John Morrison), 1934; A Child's Grace, 1937; The Secret, 1938; and Little Children, 1941. Illustrated Ben (Primrose Cumming), 1939; and The Farming Front (Fred Kitchen), 1943. Joint-Editor, 1941-44, with Cecil Rhodes, of Light & Life Publications. Contributed to many technical journals, including a book of Zeiss photographic equipment, and exhibited photographs, at home and abroad.
Married Mary Aylwin Ovenden of Sandwich, 1939. Both killed by a flying bomb at Reigate, 22 July, 1944.
