Then-and-now photos of 'mystery' subjects revealed

Mystery subjects of portrait photographs taken in the 1950s and 60s have revealed their identities after an appeal was made to track them down.

The pictures were taken by Herbert Shergold, who ran a studio on Gloucester Road, Bristol, using glass plate negatives to make his subjects look like film stars.

A selection of his works were on display in an exhibition at The Launderette on Cheltenham Road.

During the event, the Bristol Photo Festival organiser launched an appeal for people in the photographs to come forward. Their then-and-now pictures can be viewed below.

Ricky Ford, pictured above, has been a singer on the Bristol music scene for nearly 70 years.

He began picking up gigs in cinemas and theatres in the city and the surrounding areas at the age of 15.

One day his agent sent him to get some professional pictures taken to use in advertising and press.

Now 84, Ricky was one of the people that came forward to share his photos, which he still uses for promotion to this day.

“I’m so happy he’s getting the recognition he deserves," said Mr Ford. "There’s something that sets him apart form the rest.

"I was just expecting a standard studio picture like you would get of happy families, but when I saw what Shergold made I just thought: 'Oh my god is that me?'”

Mr Ford went to his appointment with Shergold in a suit and bow tie, as he expected to have a conventional studio picture taken.

However, when he told the photographer that he was a pop singer, Shergold asked him to ditch the formal wear and he took a second portrait.

"That picture has stayed with me all my life and the power of it has been amazing," Mr Ford said. "I just couldn’t believe what he had created, he really was a class above the rest."

Janetta Tovey's old boss paid for her to get pictures taken to enter into a nationwide Miss Betting Shop beauty competition.

"It was a big deal back in those days because a professional photograph was very expensive," said Ms Tovey.

"I was very nervous but he was a nice man and treated me very well. It was a big deal to go to his place in those days. Everyone knew he was the best."

Ms Tovey had a few different pictures taken on her visit but only kept hold of some of them and had not seen the others until she visited the exhibition.

"I didn't expect it to be there and it was the first thing I saw as soon as I walked in," she said.

David Wilson grew up near Gloucester Road and remembered going down to have his photo taken by the man he only knew as Bertie.

"He was a friend of my mother's so she must have sorted it," said Mr Wilson.

"I just remember going down all suited and booted and him getting me to take my jacket and tie off so I looked more casual. That was his style.

"I thought I looked like a movie star but I remember showing it to a girlfriend at the time and she hated it because she said it looked nothing like me."

Mr Wilson was very young at the time and said he did not know very much about Herbert, other than that you could always recognise a photo taken by him because of the signature Hollywood style.

"Everyone seemed to know him back in the day," he said.

Mr Shergold died in obscurity in 1982, with no relatives, and the exhibition at Bristol Photo Festival is the first time his work has ever been shown publicly.

He used glass plate negatives, by then an antiquated style of photography which had been more popular in the late 19th century.

Exhibition organiser Alejandro Acín said: "We've had people come in and recognise themselves, their family and their friends.

"We had one lady who recognised her aunt who was in a jazz band and used her Shergold photograph right throughout her career."

Some visitors to the exhibition have also brought along their own collections.

"One man came in with a collection of glass plate negatives and in there was a self portrait of Herbert himself," said Mr Acín.

"We have dozens of photos taken by him but we only had one grainy newspaper clipping with a photo of him."

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