WARM tributes were paid today to former Telegraph chief photographer John Esplin who died on Monday at the age of 86.

Greenock-born John worked for the Tele between 1977 and 1994, and was so well known he was given a farewell dinner by several Inverclyde provosts when he left.

He was brought up in Belville Street, and married his wife, Nan, of nearby Morton Terrace, in 1953.

Their daughter Alison was born two years later.

National Service with the Royal Air Force in Yorkshire led to a lifelong link with the RAF Club in Greenock, where he became chairman and an honorary member. He organised many club events, including annual holidays in Benidorm.

John was a keen amateur photographer with Greenock Camera Club, and this led to him opening a photography business in Ann Street, taking pictures at weddings and other functions, and to becoming a freelance photographer for national newspapers before joining the Tele.

He was also a member of Auchmountain Harriers, the Scouts, and the 175 Club.

Alison said her dad lived life to the full, and put his heart and soul into everything he did.

She said: “He loved his job at the Tele and meeting so many people, and he always had a great time at the RAF Club.”

Former Telegraph editor Ken Thomson described John as ‘a true photo journalist who was always full of enthusiasm’.

He said: “He always knew the angle in a story, and would come up with a picture to complement it.

“He was a close friend for many years even before the Telegraph, when I worked with him for the Daily Record on lots of stories, including visiting Canadian Pacific and Cunard ships taking emigrants to Canada.”

John passed on the baton of Tele chief photographer to George Munro, who said it was a ‘great privilege for him’ to work as his assistant, and to benefit from his wealth of photographic knowledge.

George said: “Press photography requires a different skill set from that of a commercial photographer, and I was lucky to work closely with one of the best in the business and someone who had quite literally ‘done it all’.

“John was the consummate professional, and expected the same from all those who worked with him. I was very lucky indeed to have worked with John, and I’m thankful for the fact that he selflessly shared his methods and skills with me over the key years of my development in the job.

“His integrity and professionalism was such that he had the final say on who should succeed him at the Tele, and I was lucky to be that person.”

George added: “John was known and loved by Inverclyde people across the social spectrum, and I was always deeply impressed with how he seemed to know just about everyone in the community.

“I owe John a great debt for all he taught me, and how he helped me to best understand what makes a great picture and how to strive to that end.”

John and Nan, who worked in Arnotts, lived for many years in Brisbane Street, before moving to Largs when they retired.
John is survived by Nan, Alison, son-in-law Jim, grandchildren Craig and Lynn and great-grandchildren Ross and Nicola.

The funeral service in Greenock Crematorium will be held at noon on Monday, which would have been when John celebrated turning 87.