Former Liverpool Daily Post picture editor unveils portraits of a city’s people

Sep 18 2009 by Kevin Core, Liverpool Daily Post

FORMER Liverpool Daily Post and Echo picture editor Stephen Shakeshaft describes his new exhibition, Liverpool People, as his most personal to date.

From his early days running copy from the sub- editors to the print room in 1962, to his retirement in 2005, his new show at the National Conservation Centre, Whitechapel, charts his real fascination – people.

He said: “National Museums Liverpool had asked me to do two exhibitions, footballers and celebrities, but they loved the idea of one about people.

“The anecdotes that go with them tell the story of Liverpool over this relatively short time.

“These were taken over 40 years, it’s a bit of history that I hope shows Liverpool through its people at a difficult time, but coming into happier times.”

Editor in chief of the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, Alastair Machray, opened the exhibition, saying: “Getting that great picture is about the photographer, not the camera. Today you will see the real story of Liverpool through the eyes of its greatest press photographer.”