A highly-respected newspaper photographer who took pictures from all walks of life has died.
Medway-based Roger Vaughan passed away with his family by his side after losing his battle with cancer.
The veteran snapper, who for decades has taken pictures of royalty and celebrities, playgroup parties and golden wedding anniversaries, was aged 79.
The dad-of-two and grandad-of-three started his illustrious career in print media as a Fleet Street runner, generally known as a dog’s body for those higher up the ladder in the newsroom.
His tasks included going to London’s mainline stations picking up packages sent in by photographers and making mid-morning bacon butties for the sub-editors. All for the princely sum of three shillings.
Roger was born in Willesden in northwest London and was the youngest of three boys, Richard and David.
When he was 15-years-old his parents had just moved to Hartlip, near Sittingbourne where he finished off his secondary schooling.
He started to get interested in photography but was frustrated that the chemist took over a week to process the film.
At his school, there was a teacher who was also into photography and had a dark room in the school so at lunchtime and after school he taught Roger how to develop negatives.
He went on to MidKent College and took a part-time course in photography where he learnt what the ‘textbook said’ but there was also a freelance photographer who taught the practical skills of his craft.
Roger then got a job with an engineering company in Knightsbridge in their photographing engineering department taking photos of the drawings on 70mm films which were 100ft long and took some processing.
He then got the opportunity to go to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo to do voluntary work where he used his skills to teach the locals, as well as setting up a dark room.
On his return he did some freelance for the nationals – from the Times to the News of the World.
In 1977 Roger was offered a staff job with the KM’s picture desk by then editor, Peter Edwards.
Around 1995 he became deputy chief photographer and then later chief photographer for the KM until 2000 when he left to go freelance.
He worked for King’s School in Rochester and Gads Hill, in Higham public schools as well as weddings and other specially commissioned occasions.
Roger also did stand-in jobs for newspapers and other publications.
He recalls getting a shot of glamour model Jordan, also known as Katie Price, at Amadeus nightclub in Strood before she became famous for the wrong reasons.
Throughout his time he photographed everyone from the Queen to playgroups and first days at school and cheque presentations.
The highlights of his life were the challenges of each job represented and the adrenaline rush from the phone call and unless you were the first on the scene you lost the initiative of getting the shot.
One extraordinary job he was sent to on a Saturday in 1987, was to climb 150 feet up Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square by ladder.
A Kent company had won the contract to stick Nelson’s left arm back on after the frost had got into the joint.
He recalled: “I climbed to the top with the CEO of the Company to take photos of him while there I asked him to take a photo of me way above the London skyline.
“Not many people can say they have stood next to Lord Nelson above Trafalgar Square, every time I go to London and stand in Trafalgar Square it reminds me of that job.”
Roger lived off Darland Banks with his wife of 47 years, Margaret.
He leaves behind daughter, Nicola, 42, son Ant, 39 and grandchildren Henry, Charlotte and Zach.
Paying tribute, his family said: “Dad was a loving, caring, doting husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather who loved his time working as a photographer.
“His camera would go everywhere with him, ready to capture a moment when it appeared.
“He touched the hearts of many with his smile, positivity, and energy and his laughter would light up the room.
“Nothing was too much for him and he would do anything for anyone”.
His funeral is on Friday, August 9 at 10am at the Garden of England Crematorium Bobbing.
More information can be found here.
His nephew, the Reverend Nathan Ward, Vicar of St Margaret’s Church, Rainham is conducting the service.
Flowers and donations can be sent to the Wisdom Hospice via John Weir Funeral Directors, Rainham.
