musings

You could be helping someone and never know it

You could be helping someone and never know it

Thanks to this wonderful, creative industry I've met some incredible people and made some incredible, life long friends.

There's also many friends I've never met because of sharing content and social media, and today I received an email from one such person; a truly delightful man from the USA.

Reading his email it reminds me yet again why I do what I do and that no matter how I may feel at times (I'm only human) I'll continue doing what I love and sharing with others because for some, as crazy as it may sound, it might be the one thing they look forward to and helps

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Photography saved me during the Covid 19 Pandemic Restrictions

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Photography saved me during the Covid 19 Pandemic Restrictions

It’s fair to say that the Covid 19 Pandemic has affected each and every one of us in one way or another; be it with the loss of a loved one, a friend, or how the restrictions placed upon us have affected our everyday lives.

I can only talk about how it’s affected me, or rather how it could have affected. Now I say ‘could have’ because I know what I’m like and I know, that even with no pandemic to contend with, I’m the kind of person that gets restless and agitated if I’m not constantly working on something new.

As a Portrait Photographer, pre March 2020 it was easy. I had portraits to take and I had my 39-45 Portraits Project which in all honesty, I’m happy to say

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Mark 'Billy' Billingham (SAS: Who Dares Wins)

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Mark 'Billy' Billingham (SAS: Who Dares Wins)

Back in May 2019 I was at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Wiltshire photographing and filming Mark Billy Billingham (former UK Special Forces and star of TV’s SAS: Who Dares Wins and Who Dares Wins Australia) whilst he was on his ‘An Audience with…’ tour.

Having met up with ‘Billy’ early in the afternoon, we set up on the stage hours before the audience streamed in to take some portrait and promo shots as it was shortly before his first book The Hard Way was released…

Remembering a Dear Friend (Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM) and Celebrating his 100th Birthday

Remembering a Dear Friend (Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM) and Celebrating his 100th Birthday

Sad that today is not as it should have been with us celebrating the 100th Birthday of our dear friend, Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM.

Were Allan with us, today we would have been heading to Biggin Hill Aerodrome to see him again flying his beloved Spitfire; instead, we will spend today with Allan firmly in our thoughts

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COVID Restrictions made me a Better Photographer

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It might sound odd to say this but I honestly believe that Covid-19 Restrictions placed upon our daily lives, have actually made me a Better Photographer.

Before March 2019, the only time I would have my camera in my hands was for taking a portrait. As a Portrait Photographer I just wasn’t interested in other genres. 

However, this all changed and I explain all in this video.

Hope you like it,
Glyn

Lone Tree in Woodland and My Bullies Story

Bullies!

Spending time in the local wood this morning to take some photographs, I was drawn to an area where this little tree was amongst the much larger pine trees towering above it. On a summers day the scene would have have felt different, but this morning with the mist, it felt kind of sinister, like the small tree was being bullied.

I hate bullies. When I was much younger in middle school there was an older, much bigger boy called Smudge who used me as his target.

Years later I was back in my home town entering a Bodybuilding Competition. The week before the competiton I stayed at my Mom’s and trained at the local gym. I’d changed quite a bit since middle school. Now I was a lot bigger from training and was just under 19st (266lbs). One afternoon I was in the gym training when in walked Smudge. Hadn’t changed much. Just looked older.  Clearly didn’t know who I was and asked me to help him on the bench press. “No problem mate”

He lay on the bench and took hold of the bar. I lifted the bar off the racks and supported it before letting go for him to press. Before letting go I couldn’t help myself…”Smudge…you don’t remember me do you? … I’m Glyn Dewis. You used to bully me at school”. At which point I let go and walked away leaving him to fend for himself.

Damn it felt good!

Oh and I went on to win the Competition. Good times!

Farewell to a Dear Friend: Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM

Yesterday we said a final farwell to Squadron Leader Allan Scott DFM who sadly and unexpectedly passed away a short time ago; a truly wonderful man for so many reasons and someone I am truly honoured to have been able to call a friend.

Due to current restrictions numbers of those attending the South Oxfordshire Crematorium were limited to 30; without such restrictions there would have been literally hundreds in attendance such was the respect and high regard for Allan amongst his many friends in both civilian life and the Royal Air Force.

However, the limited numbers did bring a different dimension to the service making it feel incredibly intimate and personal.

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Immediately prior to the service it was both incredibly emotional and spectacular to watch as a Spitfire appeared overhead for over 5 minutes performing Victory Rolls in his honour…

As the service, held at the South Oxfordshire Crematorium, commenced Allan’s casket adorned in a Union Flag was carried by RAF personnel in Number 1s along with Standard-Bearers ahead.

The service conducted by The Reverend Matthew Stevens (Padre, RAF Benson) was so incredibly fitting and with utmost respect.

The eulogy read by RAF Gulf War Veteran, Presenter and Author John Nichol was wonderfully uplifiting as he recounted Allan’s Military endeavours and personal experiences on time spent in his company; that both Anne and myself along with Andrew and Sue Perkins were mentioned as dear friends to Allan was so incredibly thoughtful of Allan’s son Murray.

Can’t begin to say how much it meant to me that the portrait I took of Allan for the 3945 Portraits Project was on the Order of Service.

The night before I stayed up until the early hours because of an overwhelming need to create another of my model Aircraft pictures but this one solely with Allan in my mind. The Spitifre used here was a gift from my Mom for my recent 49th Birthday…

The final edit I have this morning printed along with Allan’s portrait and taken to a friend of mine who owns a picture framing shop so that I can have both side by side, framed and hang on a wall in our new home.

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If you missed it, here’s Allan’s last television appearance which aired on the BBC One Show on Monday 7th September 2020; the evening before he passed.

Per Ardua Ad Astra

Blue Skies Dear Friend x

© Glyn Dewis 2026