Today was a commercial job. I was doing the PR photography for the Arundel Community Partnership in West Sussex as they celebrated the opening of the new mooring and fingerposts in Arundel with special guest Ben Fogle, TV presenter, celebrity and adventurer.
Ben, who grew up near Arundel in Ford, arrived in a Canadian canoe with his father paddling up the river and coming ashore at the new mooring and was greeted by the Mayor, Town Crier and some of the directors of the partnership. I covered the arrival from the bridge over the river, and then ran down to the pontoon to get Ben coming ashore, and the obligatory posed photograph. Back on dry land I covered the speeches, and then the ceremonial ribbon cutting, and some gift presentations to his parents, actress Julia Foster and TV vet Bruce Fogle, who were also present before Ben happily posed for the crowds and signed autographs – a really nice guy.
With the crowd temporarily satisfied I covered some of the groups from the construction side, as well as representatives from SEEDA and the Environment Agency who provided the funding finishing with a large group on the pontoon.
I was also fortunate enough to get a few minutes with Ben before he was whisked away to get a clean portrait shot for the archive.
These images will be available for viewing for the representatives of the various bodies and companies very soon and for use in their PR, publications, and materials.
Here are a small selection of images from the day. As always these images are © Mike French, Meonshore Studios Ltd and are protected under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and may not be used for any purpose without written permission from ourselves, and in most cases appropriate payment.
Select more to view them all.
Ben Fogle canoes towards Arundel
Ben Fogle steps aboard the new pontoon in Arundel
Ben's father Bruce Fogle is greeted by the Mayor of Arundel
Ben Fogle happily poses for the crowds taking photographs
A fan patiently waits for her turn to get Ben Fogle's autograph
Ben talks about Arundel and the importance of young people being active and away from the TV or computer
The ribbon cutting ceremony and Ben Fogle declares the pontoon open
Ben looks on as two Arundel residents discuss matters
Representatives of the design and construction firms, SEEDA the Environment Agency and Arundel Community Partnership along with the Mayor and Town Crier, and of course Ben Fogle pose for a formal PR image
Celebrity portrait of Ben Fogle at the opening
by Mike French
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