1953/04/25. I've been at this game a long time now! Four year old Geoff Plumb in the cab of Midland Railway 1P 0-4-4T No. 58077 at Wirksworth station during the SLS/MLS "High Peak Rail Tour", Saturday 25th April 1953. No anoraks in those days! I was enjoying myself - honest!

1955/09/25. 2 ex-North London Railway 0-6-0T's are at the head of a special train organized by "Trains Illustrated" magazine over the Cromford & High Peak Railway, here at Longcliffe. On the left of the picture is my father Derek, my brother Barry and I are sitting on the track watching the spectacle! 25th September 1955.

1955? LMS "Royal Scot" Class 4-6-0 No. 46129 "The Scottish Horse" sets off from Chester with a local passenger train to Crewe and is passing the MPD where a "Crab" 2-6-0 is just heading off shed. Sandwiched between the two is a young Geoff Plumb watching proceedings during an RCTS shed visit, mid 1950's.

1956/07/12. FR George England 0-4-0STT No. 2 "Prince" at Portmadoc Harbour station about to depart with the 15:00 train to Minffordd on Thursday 12th July 1956. On the right by the station nameboard are my father and mother, my brother Barry is seated on the ground, I am in between my mother and my sister Gwyneth on the right. Photo by RJ Buckley.

1956/xx/xx. Family holiday in the Isle of Wight, Summer 1956. My brother Barry on the left, I am in the centre and my sister Gwyneth on the right. We are posing for my father in front of ex-LB&SCR E1 Class 0-6-0T No. W2 "Yarmouth" which had just arrived at Ryde St Johns Road station with the evening goods train, perhaps from Medina Wharf.

1956/xx/xx. Whilst spending a day by the Lickey Incline we made a visit to the Church Yard in Bromsgrove where the crew of a Norris 4-2-0 banking engine were buried after an accident in which the boiler of their engine exploded in November 1840. On the right by one of the grave stones is my brother Barry, while I am standing next to the left hand stone. Date unknown, but mid-1950's.

1965/05/08. As soon as I was turned sixteen years old, I started to borrow my sister's humble Honda 50, until I got a motorbike of my own. This meant I could get a little further afield independently and widen my horizons. Here, the bike is parked on a bridge just north of Gerrards Cross as a southbound Class 47 passes by with a Birmingham to Paddington express, Saturday 8th May 1965.

1965/06/13. This became my means of transport soon after my sixteenth birthday - an Ambassador 250cc Villiers 2T twin two-stroke motorbike which enabled me to get about independently and was used to get me to many locations photographed and seen on this site! Sunday 13th June 1965.

1967/06/xx. Until I was sixteen years old, I had to get to locations for photography either by walking, bicycle, public transport or prevail upon my father for a lift. I then learnt to ride a motorbike (initially under 250cc until the driving test was passed). One of several motorbikes I owned over the years prior to moving onto cars was this 1955 Norton Dominator 99 600cc model, registration SNB384, in silver grey and maroon. Here it is parked on the lane by Watford South Junction, sometime in June 1967. Great fun!

1970/05/06. 21 year old Geoff Plumb (I was a bit eccentric even in those days!) during my first trip to Germany in search of steam, and I had a wonderful time! I had arrived in Tübingen on board an Ürdingen railbus (like the one in the background) from Horb and the driver offered to take me and a German enthusiast to the loco depot on the ECS working. The Lokleitung (depot foreman) gave us permission to take photos at the depot and here I am posing in front of 2-6-2T No. 064 250-4. Wednesday 6th May 1970.

1974/01/xx. Taken at Windsor Racecourse during the de-rig after a Horse-Racing Outside Broadcast (LWT for ITV Sport) in January 1974. L to R: Ron Gristwood (Links Rigger-Driver), Eric Gibb (Links Rigger-Driver), Ken Manning (Senior Cameraman, Camera Crew 4), Dave Lowe (OB Rigger-Driver) behind the camera (EMI 2001!) and Geoff Plumb (Camera Crew 4).

1975/03/25. My wife-to-be Jackie by candle-light at the dinner table at our then home in Harrow, taken during dinner to celebrate my birthday, 25th March 1975!

1977/06/xx. My wife Jackie in the garden of her parents' house in Castleford during our holiday to celebrate our first wedding anniversary! June 1977.

1986/06/11, 1. LWT PSC Crew 3, left to right, Geoff Plumb (Cameraman) & Ian O'Donoghue (Sound Recordist), together with Sport Reporter Jim Rosenthal and Lighting Electrician Billy Wilson, prepare for another World Cup Match at Monterrey stadium during the first stages of the Mexico '86 tournament prior to one of England's games. June 1986. The caption referred to a remark made by another member of the ITV Sport team later on in the event!

1986/06/11, 2. A bit of role reversal here - I'm on the pitch in the stadium at Monterrey, while Gary Stevens of Tottenham Hotspur and England operates the camera... During the warm-up prior to one of England's games in the first round of Mexico '86, not that much warming-up was required as the temperature was well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit! June 1986.

1986/06/18. LWT PSC (Portable Single Camera) Crew 3, Sound Recordist Ian O'Donoghue on the left and Cameraman Geoff Plumb on the right, team up with England's Gary Lineker on the pitch at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City prior to the match against Paraguay during the World Cup tournament in Mexico 1986. Wednesday 18th June 1986. England won 3-0!

1986/06/22. It looks as though my eyes are in need of a rest prior to the match between England and Argentina in the Azteca Stadium during the World Cup Mexico '86. Argentina went on to win the match 2-1, thanks to Maradona's "hand of God" goal scored in the net behind me. Sunday 22nd June 1986.

1990/07/04. Prior to the World Cup match in Turin on 4th July 1990, between England & Germany, yours truly & camera behind one of the goals. Photo taken by the German cameraman operating the camera alongside me. England lost 4-5 after a penalty shoot-out and "Gazza" ended up in tears!

1995. "This wing-walking lark is not as easy as it looks - what the hell will it be like when we take-off?!" Rigging minicams on a "Crunchie Flying Circus" biplane at RFC Rendcomb, near Cirencester, for another "You Bet" stunt!

1996/07/xx. 10000 feet over Blackpool with the RAF Falcons parachute display team in the open back of a Hercules aircraft. "Blind Date" couple Nana & Paul were strapped in at one side of the plane and we were tethered at the other side, the team between us. When they leapt out we could get to the end of the ramp in the bottom of the picture to see them descend. July 1996.

1997/06/xx. The Blind Date camera has been set up for a "locked-off" shot and is running to capture the passage of the sugar cane train, while I prepare to grab a stills shot. Hunslet diesel No. 5 is approaching with a train of sugar cane heading for the processing mill in Basseterre, St Kitts. June 1997.

1997/07/24. Octogenarian "Blind Date" couple Margaret & Jim won a date to Venice from London Victoria on the "Orient Express", which suited me nicely as I had the job of filming with them! Here, they are about to board the VSOE to Venice at Boulogne Maritime station, Thursday 24th July 1997.

1997/08/06. "Blind Date" couple Kathryn & Simon pose in front of 750mm gauge standard 2-10-2T No. 99 791 at Radebeul Ost, between Dresden and Meissen, Wednesday 6th August 1997. Saxon Meyer 0-4-4-0T No. 99 586 in the background.

1997/08/22, 1. During a break in filming for "Blind Date" in Greenland. We had sailed from Narssarssuaq along Eriks Fjord aboard "Puttut" which is now moored in a small harbour at Atarnaitsup nua. We then walked over the hill to a small village at Igaliko, from where we've just returned. The boat owner is on the left of the picture, Katie (girl of the "couple") in the centre, and I am on the right - and no, the antlers are not mine! Friday 22nd August 1997.

1997/08/22, 2. Whose turn is it to take a photo now? On location for "Blind Date" in Greenland, Friday 22nd August 1997. Katie on the left was the girl of the couple, cameraman Geoff Plumb is in the centre and on the right is the director, Peter Mulryan. We are on board "Puttut" sailing on Tunugdliarfik (Erik's Fjord) near Narssarssuaq. Photo by Kevin Amos (Sound Recordist).

1997/09/13. Unusual crew transport to cross the river from the Chitwan National Park in Nepal at the start of our journey back to Kathmandu. Having originally crossed the river in dug-out canoes as seen in the background, we thought elephants would be preferable! This was the "Blind Date" where the girl of the couple refused to go, so David went on his own! Saturday 13th September 1997.

1998/11/25. "Blind Date", couple & crew about to board the "Eastern & Oriental Express" train at Bangkok Hua Lamphong station on the morning of Wednesday 25th November 1998, for the trip to Singapore. From L to R, Nana (girl of couple), Kev Amos (sound recordist), PR Girl, Andy (boy of couple), Gemma Cooper (researcher) & Mike Furness (director).

1998/11/27. Nana was one half of a "Blind Date" couple who won a trip on the "Eastern & Oriental Express" from Bangkok to Singapore. Here she is, having just alighted from the train after arrival at Singapore Keppel Road station, Friday 27th November 1998.

1999/07/xx. On location for "Blind Date" at the Tsar's Summer Palace at Peterhof near St. Petersburg, Russia. From L to R: Matthew Lynch (Researcher), Kev Amos (Sound Recordist), Geoff Plumb (Cameraman) & Chris Carey (Director). July 1999.

1999/09/xx, 1. The rigours of working on location! "Blind Date" couple Sam (the girl!) and Matt (on the pedalo) cavort on one of the beaches of Saint Vincent & The Grenadines in the Caribbean. Director Mick Thomas is in the water while cameraman Geoff Plumb and freelance sound recordist Neil Papworth capture the action! September 1999.

1999/09/xx, 2. In view of the impending new rules concerning "Product Placement" in TV programmes, I thought I would make an early stab at it myself - though I don't seem to have my fingers in quite the right place... The beer concerned might be able to reach the parts other beers cannot, but it isn't doing much for my hair! On board the "Becquia Express" ferry between islands in the St. Vincent & Grenadines during a "Blind Date" shoot in September 1999. By the way, I prefer bitter!

2000/06/16. Sunlight streams down from the entrance to Alum Pot some 150 feet above, from where I have just been lowered, complete with camera and equipment, on the end of a rope tied to a tree! This was whilst filming for "Don't Try This At Home! - Challenge of a Lifetime", when a young lady who suffered from claustrophobia had to work her way through the cave system near Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire. Once she reached the main shaft she then had to climb her way out! Despite not being able to climb all the way out, she was deemed to have succeeded in her challenge, but it took several hours. Friday 16th June 2000.

2004/09/10. On location for "Scrapheap Challenge" Christmas Special 2004 at a site in South Wales. "The Clagsters" were the winning team with their "Flying Rivets" steam engine seen here after their loaded test run with an old Virgin Mk.2 carriage. On the track is the "Judge", on this occasion Nick Pigott, editor of "The Railway Magazine". On the engine itself is Captain Richard "Turbo" Vincent and with his back to camera is Expert Richard Gibbon, former Head of Engineering at the National Railway Museum in York. The other two team members are hidden. In the coach corridor connection is "Scrapheap" engineer Hadrian Spooner. Friday 10th September 2004.

2006/04/21. On location for "Scrapheap Challenge" at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road. Presenters Robert Llewellyn and Lisa Rogers are on the "Pumping Trolley" being filmed by myself on another trolley in the foreground and fellow cameraman Nigel Dupont with his back to camera, and First AD Neil Charlwood on the stool between the tracks. These were static shots! Friday 21st April 2006. Photo by Nick Bell.

2006/06/30, 1. Setting up a camera position 95 feet or so above Hawley Lake in a "Cherry Picker" crane for another "Scrapheap Challenge" test day. Having finalised the position, we are just about to rig the camera on its tripod in the crane basket. On the left is camera assistant Nick Bell (who took the photo) and cameraman Geoff Plumb. It has become something of a joke on "Scrapheap" that I spend half my life stuck up a "Cherry Picker"!

2006/06/30, 2. The view looking straight down from the "Cherry Picker", 95 feet above Hawley Lake. This was my camera position for another "Scrapheap Challenge" test day - a position that doesn't suit everyone! Photo by Nick Bell. There are times, however, when a "Cherry Picker" would be handy for railway photography...

2007/09/19, 1. As the old adage goes - never work with animals & children! On an assignment at Woburn Safari Park, the lemurs in their enclosure took a real shine to my waterproof jacket and proceeded to lick it within an inch of its life. At one stage as well as carrying the camera I had about five lemurs festooned about my person, making it rather difficult to film them! Our young presenter waits for me to be able to frame a shot... Wednesday 19th September 2007. Photo by Steve Mealing, sound recordist.

2007/09/19, 2. As the old adage goes - never work with animals & children! On an assignment at Woburn Safari Park, the lemurs in their enclosure took a real shine to my waterproof jacket and proceeded to lick it within an inch of its life. At one stage as well as carrying the camera I had about five lemurs festooned about my person, making it rather difficult to film them! Wednesday 19th September 2007. Photo by Steve Mealing, sound recordist.

2007/09/19, 3. As the old adage goes - never work with animals & children! On an assignment at Woburn Safari Park, the lemurs in their enclosure took a real shine to my waterproof jacket and proceeded to lick it within an inch of its life. At one stage as well as carrying the camera I had about five lemurs festooned about my person, making it rather difficult to film them! Wednesday 19th September 2007. Photo by Steve Mealing, sound recordist.