Maurice Broomfield
Encyclopedia
Maurice W Broomfield was a photographer whose images of post-war British industry were credited with capturing the optimistic spirit of the time.
Born in Draycott
, Derbyshire, Broomfield was the son of a lacemaker. On leaving school at 15, he worked as a lathe operator on the assembly lines of the engineering company Rolls-Royce
. In the evenings he studied at Derby College of Art. During the Second World War he was conscientious objector
, working in the Friends Ambulance Unit as an ambulance driver in the London blitz
, and after the war for Save the Children
in Germany.
His son Nick Broomfield
is a celebrated documentary film-maker.
Broomfield's archive has been acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum
.
Born in Draycott
Draycott
Draycott may refer to:* Draycott, Derbyshire** Draycott and Breaston railway station * Draycott, Gloucestershire* Draycot, Oxfordshire* Draycott, in Rodney Stoke parish, Somerset** Draycott Sleights, a nearby SSSI...
, Derbyshire, Broomfield was the son of a lacemaker. On leaving school at 15, he worked as a lathe operator on the assembly lines of the engineering company Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
. In the evenings he studied at Derby College of Art. During the Second World War he was conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, working in the Friends Ambulance Unit as an ambulance driver in the London blitz
Blitz
-Armed conflict:*The Blitz, the German aerial attacks on Britain in WWII. The name Blitz was subsequently applied to many individual bombing campaigns or attacks.*Blitzkrieg, the "lightning war", a strategy of World War 2 Germany-People:...
, and after the war for Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
in Germany.
His son Nick Broomfield
Nick Broomfield
Nicholas "Nick" Broomfield is an English documentary film-maker. He is the son of Maurice Broomfield, a photographer.Broomfield works with a minimal crew, recording sound himself and using one or two camera operators...
is a celebrated documentary film-maker.
Broomfield's archive has been acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
.
External links
- Personal website, including extensive slideshow of images
- Obituary in The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
by Marcus Williamson