Malvern in a Day: Photos of town in the 70s turned into book

A box of 202 black and white photos of life in the town had been sitting in Malvern Library since being handed over by photographer Michael Dowty more than 50 years ago.

He had been tasked with capturing one day in Malvern after doing the same in Worcester - and on Friday, July 30 he did just that, starting out just after 6am in Malvern Link.

Jan starting her research in Malvern Library as lockdown restrictions eased (Image: Jan Condon)

His pictures from that day resurfaced when the Friends of Malvern Museum started cataloguing and conserving the library’s archive material.

Volunteer Jan Condon said: “I was directed to the box in store at the library when I, as a new recruit to the Friends, asked if there was anything I could get involved with.

“The box contained the Dowty photographs and was labelled Malvern in a Day 1971.

“A glance through the contents suggested that this was a treasure trove of information about the not-too-distant past. And it was all to be recorded on spreadsheets and conserved for the future.

“The Malvern in a Day project slowly evolved into something much bigger.”

Some of the photos were featured in a display outside Waitrose in Church Walk, prompting people to share their memories and many to ask if a book accompanied the exhibition.

Jan with her book in Rossiter's in Malvern (Image: Jan Condon)

Eventually, it was suggested Jan should write one.

“And so, with lots of encouragement and support from colleagues old and new, and the staff of Malvern Library, I did,” she said.

“I had written a few pamphlets and sections in other people’s books. I had edited School Libraries Group News for the Library Association; I had given talks at conferences… but I had never written a book.

“Malvern in a Day took very much longer to write than it took Michael Dowty to take his photos. “But it has been fascinating to research and write and the whole project has involved so many people who have helped along the way.

“And now there is another box of Dowty photos, mostly of more rural scenes… so we are looking out for even more memories of the 70s.”

People can contact Jan by leaving a message at the library or emailing midmemos1970s@gmail.com

Malvern in a Day is on sale at Aspect Design. Malvern Book Co-operative, Rossiter Books, The Friends of Malvern Priory Shop, Malvern Tourist Information Centre and at The Hive in Worcester.

Proceeds from its sale will be used to help the future conservation of historic materials and support further research into Malvern’s past.