Community Project... latest news

This afternoon, after a bit of email chivvying and a cancellation last week, I was lucky enough to host my latest sitter for the community portrait project, Mr Patrick McLoughlin, MP. It's a bit of swizz because he happens to be the local MP for Matlock, but having probably the second most influencial man in the country sit in your kitchen and share anecdotes about your shared hometown is quite a humbling experience. He was at once charming and amiable, and not just in the professionally sociable manner that MP's and politicians are often prone to- a slightly clumsy and unpolished manner in his small talk belied his honesty and integrity as a fellow human being, rather than the all too easy chit chat of a top 100 CEO or other 'professional personality'. We spoke of house renovations and nuclear disasters, of bi-elections and ice cream vans with equal fervour. Rhubarb (our Springer Spaniel) thought that this was a particularly good moment to sit on his feet and devour a stick freshly brought from the garden, clearly her way of making him feel welcome and demonstrating our gratitude at his visit. This Patrick tolerated with professional ignorance, and presently we began to shoot a few photo's. Patrick chatted of certain memories of Matlock life that stuck out. Particular personal tragedies of certain constituents, the death of a devoted supporter took precidence over fond memories of time spent with his then young son at the ice cream van on the road over the top that runs to Belper. He was in no hurry to leave, but I felt that I had already been too greedy with what must be some of the most precious time of anyone that particular evening. With a constituent surgery still to attend before an AGM later that evening, my small interview was surely nothing more than an inconvenience to a lesser man.  Especially considering that man had been called to an urgent cabinet meeting in London, on a whim, earlier in the morning.

I have been left with some suitable photo's, an enlightening experience and a chastised dog, and am looking forward to capturing the exchange as a pretty wholesome portrait.

I hope the Duke is as approachable, and tolerant of errant pets, should the opportunity arise for a dialogue.