Former Nottingham Post photographer Trevor Bartlett dies after A52 collision in Beeston

Legendary Nottingham Post photographer Trevor Bartlett has died following a collision on the A52 in Beeston. The 80-year-old was walking home from the pub when he was in collision with a police[1] van around 6.30pm on December 19. The popular snapper began working at the Nottingham Evening Post as a 15-year-old copy boy, leaving school on a Friday and starting at the paper on the Monday.

He went on to become the youngest press photographer in the Midlands at the age of 17. He worked at the paper for 45 years picturing thousands of locals, royalty, politicians, pop stars and sports stars – becoming firm friends with former Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough[2]. Trevor, who retired at the age of 62, had been to his local, the Nurseryman, for a couple of drinks, and was on his way home for his dinner when the accident happened.

When he didn’t return home at the usual time, his wife of 58 years, Sandra, thought he’d got chatting to a friend. She texted and rang his mobile but there was no answer. She said: “About 7.45pm I said to my son I’ll go down there and look for him because he’d never stay as late as that.

I was just getting my coat when the door went. I thought it was him but it was the police.” Sandra, who met Trevor at college when she was 17, said: “I can’t believe it.

I kept saying ‘where is he, is he alright? They said there’s been a collison and he didn’t make it. Robert and I walked down at 10pm because I wanted to see where it happened and there was a detective and he told me it was a police car.

“The police said last night they were going to put a statement out and did I want his name in it and I said yes because he’s got so many friends. I want people to know because that would be what he wanted.”

Trevor Bartlett, from Beeston (Image: Nottingham Post)

As well as being a talented photographer, Trevor was a devoted husband, father to sons Robert and Peter and grandfather. The family had been due to spend Christmas[3] together.

Breaking down in tears, Sandra said: “We were so happy. He was my best friend, my soulmate. He was everything.

He was just a wonderful person. I knew him when I was at school and we both got together at the art college. I was doing design in the evenings and he was doing photography and he asked me to be the model and that was it.

“We got engaged at Christmas. He spent all his bonus on my ring. We’d have been married 59 years in January.

He was looking forward to his diamond wedding.” Trevor flew around the continent capturing memorable images of Brian Clough’s side, twice champions of Europe as well as many home games at the Forest ground. His pictured the Queen Mother, striking miners, and firemen toiling in the wreckage at Kegworth.

Due to his love of a drink, Trevor was invited to officially open Nottingham Beer Festival. He had countless stories from his days at the Post. When photographing Prince Philip, he asked how many more pictures he was going to take, because the sound of the motor drive was getting on his nerves.

He recalled: “The Princess of Wales was brilliant. Tall and very beautiful. I can remember her walking down the Processional Way in the Old Market Square[4] and getting some mud on her shoes.

When she got into the Council House she went to the toilet to clean her shoe, but she accidentally went into the gents. She came out smiling, having realised her mistake. I could have taken a shot of that, but I’ve never been a papparazzo.”

Trevor, who worked in the same era as Richard Denning, David Baird and Steve Footitt, had a huge portfolio including the likes of Tom Jones, Elton John, Mick Hucknall[5], The Beatles, Jim Callaghan, Harold Wilson, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher. His all-time favourite picture, taken with the Nikon he used in the pre-digital era, shows Peter Shilton kissing the European Cup which Forest had just won for the second time, in 1980. Trevor was highly regarded by former Nottingham Evening Post owner Colonel Forman Hardy, who sent Sandra a handwritten note when he collapsed at work from a brain haemorrhage aged 41.

His consultant said it was a miracle he survived. A 12-hour operation saved his life. He made a full recovery and returned to work within five months.

Former sports editor Mick Holland, who worked with Trevor for 40 years, and remained a friend during retirement, paid tribute. “He was a truly wonderful photographer who was loved by all who met him especially Brian Clough, who presented him with his own Forest team jacket. He covered Notts too and the Reds here and abroad for many seasons and his stories are legendary.

I saw him just a few weeks ago and he was his usual happy self, regaling tales of those years. It’s a very sad day.” A statement from the Independent Office for Police Conduct has also been released.

“The Independent Office for Police Conduct has started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a collision in the Beeston area of Nottingham. “It follows a referral from Nottinghamshire Police after one of its vehicles collided with a male pedestrian on the inbound carriageway of the A52 Derby Road just after 6.30pm on Tuesday (19 December). “The pedestrian was treated by paramedics but has sadly died.

“After we were notified by the force, we sent our investigators to the police post-incident process and to the scene to begin gathering information.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident”.

References

1. ^ police (www.nottinghampost.com)
2. ^ Brian Clough (www.nottinghampost.com)
3. ^ Christmas (www.nottinghampost.com)
4. ^ Old Market Square (www.nottinghampost.com)
5. ^ Hucknall (www.nottinghampost.com)