Tributes paid to multi award-winning Staffordshire photographer

Allan Williamson, who worked as a freelance photographer for the Express & Star in the late 2000s after decades at the Lichfield Mercury, has died following a short battle with cancer.

The 60-year-old, of Brereton, covered many events in the district's calendar, from election campaigns to royal visits, and became known to thousands of people.

He also won dozens of national and regional awards, including the newspaper society free weekly gold award for best photographer in the UK, which he won four times.

In 2008 he won a double gold award taking both the news and sport newspaper society national titles - the first time any photographer has won both in the same year.

He also worked on the Tamworth Herald, Sutton Coldfield Observer, Walsall Advertiser and Journal magazine and in 2000, as group chief photographer, was responsible for the conversion of photography from film camera to digital.

In 2003 he published a book of photographs entitled Moments in Time celebrating his 30 years at the Mercury newspaper.

Mr Williamson, who was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, also had an exhibition of over 200 photographs from 1973-2003 at Lichfield Library Gallery and later exhibited at the Museum of Cannock Chase in 2008.

In 1972 he came to the Midlands to take a one year course in press photography at Wednesfield before joining the Lichfield Mercury in 1973.

He met his wife Pauline, who now works as the director of learning support at Hagley Park and Fair Oak Academies in Rugeley, in 1974 when he was taking pictures at Burntwood Recreation Centre where she was working as a play leader.

They married in 1976 and the couple had two children, Jon, aged 34, and Jemma, 31.

A statement released by Mr Williamson's family said: "Allan truly loved photography, capturing his passion and appreciation for life in every picture he took.

"His photographs brought, and continue to bring, much joy to many and have been recognized with awards time and time again. Allan was devoted to his family and was thoroughly kind, caring and decent with everyone he met.

"He showed incredible bravery and dignity when facing the cancer that took him from us. He is much loved and greatly missed."

Lichfield District Council leader Mike Wilcox said it was a sad loss and he had been a popular character in the city.

He said: "I met him on many occasions. He always had a smile. He was a likeable character. We will all miss him very much."