THESE old boys at the Milldam in 1968 would have a smile to themselves to think they are now on the wall of the finest of fine art galleries on Savile Row, London.
And their price tag of £4,500 would have raised one or two of their eyebrows.
The Midges as they were fondly known, because they hung around and nipped at people, were all retired and used to congregate and have a good blether and generally put the world to rights at the Milldam, near to the Dellwood Hotel. They made a perfect subject for Linda McCartney’s photographic skills and the result was this affectionate portrait, Old Men, Scotland 1968.
It is one of her works chosen by her husband Sir Paul and family for Linda McCartney Photographs, which is running until July 19 at the James Hyman Gallery; it is the first major exhibition of platinum prints by Linda McCartney to be presented in the UK, and is the result of a three year collaboration between Paul McCartney and his family with gallerist and art historian James Hyman.
The Midges are on the wall alongside famous rock stars such as Mick Jagger, Janis Joplin and members of The Beatles, intimate portraits of the McCartney family and landscapes including a stunning photograph the The Rest and be Thankful. Accompanying the exhibition is a limited edition catalogue that includes a personal contribution from Sir Paul McCartney. In it he writes that the exhibition, 10 years after his wife passed away had brought back many memories. He wrote: ‘She knew the moment to click, which I think was her big secret. She would often take just one photograph when other photographers might have taken a whole roll of film and often she wouldn’t use a light meter. That took some doing!
And he added another of Linda’s great secrets was ‘her ability to melt into the background. She would take pictures and you wouldn’t really be aware of it, so you’d be completely natural.’
The photographs are for sale in very limited editions, beautifully presented as large platinum prints and authenticated with a certificate signed by Paul McCartney.
When the McCartney family stayed at their Kintyre home Linda often photographed local people and places.
The works in the exhibition are described as from the 1960s up until the late 1990s, and present a personal record of the times and feature many rarely seen works, as well as better known images.
The names of the old boys in the photograph, that people can recall are, from the left: Duncan McKerral, William McAulay, Tommy McMillan, a member of the Sincliar family and the last is unknown. Can you remember? Please write and lets us know.
And in Linda’s garden
MULL of Kintyre Pipe Band Championships received a welcoming boost to their funds this week thanks to money from the Co-operative Group.
Katherine McIntyre, area representative for the Co-operative presented a cheque of £500 to Finlay Wylie and Moyra Paterson from the Mull of Kintyre Pipe Band Championships committee.
The championships will take place on Saturday May 17 at Kinloch Park, and Finlay Wylie thanked the Co-op on behalf of the championships.
He said: ‘We would like to thank the Co-op for their support of the championships and we hope it will continue. We are very grateful for this money.’
Katherine McIntyre, group representative for this area said: ‘We are very happy to give this sum of money to the Pipe Band Championships and we know it will go to good use.’
