Biography - A Profile of Brian Hazell

Brian Hazell was born in London, educated at Mercers' School in the City of London and was, like his father, a Freeman of the City of London. Brian's Father worked for Mac Fisheries, his office being in Pudding Lane on the site where the Great Fire of London started in 1666 and, as he worked on Saturday mornings, Brian used to travel with him from Feltham to London by car, and enjoyed exploring the City while his father worked.

With his father Brian became interested in photography, and was privileged to be invited to join the firm's photographer in his darkroom to learn developing and printing, before setting up their own darkroom in a shed at the bottom of their garden. The photography bug then bit and before long they were setting up Leica and Contax outfits and enjoying their hobby together, particularly when Brian was able to join his father on many of his business trips to the various fishing ports around England, Scotland and Wales.

It was during visits to London that Brian discovered Southwark Cathedral, met the third Verger George Snell, who gave up his lunch hour to show him around parts of the Cathedral never open to the Public. Subsequently Brian's father and him were asked to take and supply a photograph of the laying on of hands ceremony to every new ordained priest, which they did taking the photographs from the clerestory, hanging on for dear life. They were also privileged to be asked to take photographs of the enthronement of Bishop Stockwood in the presence of Princess Margaret, this time in colour, from the scaffolding, set up by ITV, from which they filmed their television programme. Southwark Cathedral has remained an important part of Brian's life and he continued to visit on a regular basis to find new angles from which to photograph it.

Brian had been interested in photography for over fifty years and, when he set up his estate agency businesses in the Weybridge area about forty years ago, he also set up a darkroom at the rear of his first office enabling him to provide individual window displays. With his family he then subsequently moved to Bexhill-on-Sea and, having set up another estate agency on the sea front, Brian was the first to introduce colour mini prints on our sales particulars and in our window display. In the estate agency business he was also the first to use digital photography on a computer system, which has today become normal for all estate agents.

Having retired from estate agency Brian continued to live near the Bexhill seafront and enjoyed his photography immensely, particularly walking out to the promenade and down to the De La Warr Pavilion, from where he took many a photograph of sunsets. He regularly competed in competitions arranged by Bexhill Photographic Club and won many awards for his photographs including a gold medal in the 2006 annual exhibition.

Unfortunately a heart problem which started in 2007 meant that he suffered more and more with his health over the 2 years that followed, and in recovery after a heart operation he died peacefully just before midnight on 30 May 2009. Through the work of his sons, this website remains as a tribute to Brian's photography and his love of Bexhill and all things beautiful. Some of his many thousands of photographs are displayed here, and continue to be available for purchase. Please use the contact form with your requirements.

In memory of Brian Hazell, 1938-2009