Residents can take a step back in time to Salford in 1977 at Langworthy Cornerstone’s latest exhibition on Friday.
The 76-year-old photographer, Phil Portus, has created the ‘Salford 77’ exhibition as a way to bring back memories of Salford in a changing urban environment in 1977.
Phil joined a small group of photographers in the mid to late 70s called the Reflex Group and started to take pictures mainly in Langworthy, Ordsall and the Adelphi area.
Phil said: “I didn’t think a lot of the photographs were going to be of any relevance, they were just pictures at the time. Now they’re historic records.
“I think the joy for me is listening to other people get excited about the pictures. I think that’s one of the main things. It’s a joy to see people have their memories jogged.”
In 2012, Phil decided to find out what had happened to some of the people he photographed, particularly the children. Phil sent some photographs to the Salford Reporter and M.E.N which resulted in an article from which several people contacted him with names and contact details.
With help from Tony Flynn (the then “Salford On-Line” reporter) Phil got talking to the people he photographed in the 70s. Phil took some new photos of the now adults which will be displayed in the exhibition on Friday (June 28).
During his photography excursion in Salford 47 years ago, Phil notably took a picture of Stephen Lord as a child. Stephen is now a well know actor that has appeared in the TV series Shameless, EastEnders and various other films and productions.
The exhibition of about 100 A3 prints and a few A2 size prints including three of an early unrecognisable John Cooper Clarke is at the Langworthy Cornerstone Community Centre on Liverpool Street from June 28 until August 29.
Phil added: “There’s been a lot of excitement and a lot of interest. I do have to thank Tony Flynn because he’s been so important in encouragement and enabling me to to find people and he’s been a brilliant source of information.”
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