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Poster for Reg Buckingham photo exhibition for A Passion for Art

Having Fun: Photos from the 1960s and 70s
  19 November  -  20 November

REG BUCKINGHAM COLLECTION

Cambridge Museum held a pop-up exhibition of Reg Buckingham’s photographs at the Arnold Cottage on Cambridge Road in November 2022. This is a digital version of the exhibition and includes additional details about the photos that were given to us during the event.  If you recognise any names and faces, please get in touch here.

 


Local amateur photographer Reg Buckingham documented Cambridge events between 1960 and 1986. His photographs come to us with such startling immediacy that we find ourselves wondering whether we are looking at someone we might know.

Because these photographs were taken to capture events, we do not always know much about the people in the photographs. Instead, we look at their clothing, the objects they hold, and the expressions on their faces to discover more about their personal stories.

What stories do they tell you?

 

Stall holder at the Lions Market, Victoria Square, Cambridge, 1968

David Jecks holding a “Gamma Clothing” sign at Lions Market, Victoria Square, Cambridge, 1968

 

Ladies playing golf, Cambridge, NZ 1965

Trials, Cambridge Golf Club, 1965 with Heather Booth (far right)

 

Tamahere Service Station

Tamahere Service Station, January 1963

 

Hangi, Cambridge NZ 1964

Hāngī at the Lions Market, Victoria Square, Cambridge, March 1964

 

Students from Middle School being taught to knit, April 1970

 

Students from Middle School being taught to knit, April 1970

Lily Saunders – far left

This photograph may have been taken as part of Red Cross Week, which began on Sunday 26 April 1970 according to a notice in the Cambridge Independent. Do you notice a difference in the boys’ and girls’ behaviour?

Peter Hately, winner of the mounted fancy dress event at Te Miro Sports, March 1968

Peter Hately, winner of the mounted fancy dress event at Te Miro Sports, March 1968

 

Gymnastics at Te Miro Sports, March 1968

Gymnastics at Te Miro Sports, March 1968

In 1968, Te Miro Sport was featured on television in the Looking at New Zealand series. It was the largest gathering of town and country residents in the 26 years the sports had been held. Cambridge Independent, Tuesday March 19, 1968 p1

Farm bikes at Te Miro Sports, March 1972

Farm bikes at Te Miro Sports, March 1972

From left, Grant Yewberry, Robert Feist and seventh from left, Neil Poritt

“Terrific” was the description given to the innovation of events for farm bikes. There was an exciting track for the obstacle course and there were other allied competitions. Practically all of the machines entered were Japanese – Honda, Yamaha or Kawasaki – and the majority were of medium power, suitable for Cambridge district farming condition. Cambridge Independent, Tuesday March 28, 1972 p1

 

Spectators at Lake Karapiro, March 1972

Spectators at Lake Karapiro, March 1972

Methodist Church Picnic, 1969

A group of picnickers sitting together, location unknown.

Ron Rimmer and Heather Rimmer (nee Skinner) are in foreground with daughters, Joy & Linda. The pair of legs could be Tony Rimmer. Top right, Mr Buchan. a teacher at Leamington primary school.

 

 

Boys with eel, Thornton Road, Cambridge NZ, 1972

Mark Johnston, John Northcott, David and Michael Darling and Clinton Watkins with an eel outside the Waikato Independent newspaper office, Duke Street, 30 August 1969 2917 19690830 Boys Eel Tuna

This monster eel was 121 cm long and weighed 7.7 kg. It was caught in the Karapiro Creek below Thornton Road by David and Michael Darling from Leamington. Twice it broke the line before it was hooked for a third time and landed after a struggle that lasted 30 minutes.
Cambridge Independent, Tuesday, Sept 2, 1969, p.1

Yachting , Lake Karapiro, November 1963

Yachting , Lake Karapiro, November 1963

 

Rugby game, May 1983

Rugby game, May 1983

The referee is John Smith.

 

Wood chopping, A & P Show, December 1967

Wood chopping, A & P Show, December 1967

“The Greatest Show in 20 Years” said the Cambridge Independent headline. “With a change over from mid-week, the Cambridge Show on Saturday was undoubtedly the best held in the 20-odd years of the post war period.

There were many contributing factors, not the least being the sunshine which followed three bleak days of rain. The weather cleared as if by magic overnight. Cambridge Independent, Tuesday Dec 5 1967 p 1

At Cambridge racecourse, date unknown

At Cambridge racecourse, date unknown

 

Art Show in Victoria Square, Cambridge, 1969

Art Show in Victoria Square, Cambridge, 1969

Sports Day, Cambridge, January 1964

Sports Day, Cambridge, January 1964

2917 19640127 Sports Day 02

 

Polo, February 1964

Polo, February 1964

War widows’ lunch, RSA, November 1970

War widows’ lunch, RSA, November 1970

2917-19701129-RSA-widows-parish-hall
Over 60 guests enjoyed the second annual Christmas luncheon provided by the R.S.A. Women’s Section for Widows of World War I and II in the clubrooms on Sunday.

The lounge had been festively decorated and excellent repast was served, with the daughters of the women’s section waiting on the tables. Cambridge Independent, Tuesday December 1, 1970 p1

Scouts on the Waikato River, 1961

Scouts on the Waikato River, 1961

Featuring Keith Downie, Terry Courtney, Donald Lowry, Trevor Smith, Gavin Levesque, and Brian Kilmore

 

Cambridge Bowling Club Opening Day, 1970

Cambridge Bowling Club Opening Day, 1970

Featuring Gordon or Arthur Vagg, Spencer Sharp, Alec Ward (behind the bowler), Waldo (Walter) Beer (bowling) and Albert Wallace (far right)

 


Acknowledgements

All images in this exhibition are digital reproductions of Reg Buckingham’s negatives. Preserved with assistance from Waipā Heritage Trust.

 

Cambridge Museum would like to thank the following people for their assistance:

Antu Susan Sunila, Bronwen Byers, Carol Hughes, Christine Salter, Claire Hubbert, Colin Morley, Dayelle Cole, Grant Middlemiss, Heather Wellington, Ian Thomas, Jeff Nobes, Jo Barnes, Kathryn Parsons, Kirsty Wyndham, Lyndall Hermitage, Marcia Baildon, Margaret Gasquoine, Michael Cole, Michael Jeans, Nigel Salter, Sheryle Henderson, Sue Hendry, Sue Milner, Val Stansfield, Vicki Middlemiss, Bob from the Vintage Car Club, and everyone who attended our Buckingham Working Bees.

Get involved

If you would like to be involved in digitizing and/or preserving the Buckingham Collection, we’d love please leave your contact details with one of our team or email elizabethharvey@cambridgemuseum.org.nz