A look at the work of Serena Wadham – Photojournalist | A talk from Lesley Billingham

Our next talk at the library will be from Lesley Billingham about the photojournalist, Serena Wadham.

“Serena Wadham (1930-2006) was a photojournalist who was based in Islington from the late 1960s until 1987, when she retired to Cornwall, spending her final years at Middle Georgia Farm, Nancledra, near St Ives. After her death her family presented a substantial collection of her negatives, contact sheets and prints, plus some press material and correspondence, to the Morrab Library in Penzance. The bulk of the collection relates to Serena Wadham’s activities in and around London. But the rest comprises Cornish themes such as early journalistic assignments, the landscape, neighbours and farming around Nancledra, and a 1990s campaign against the redevelopment of Hayle.” Written by Photo Archive volunteer Robin Lenman in May 2008 for the exhibition he curated at the library.

Lesley Billingham came across the Serena Wadham collection in 2015 when she found out that a substantial portion of extensive collection hundreds of prints, two and a half thousand 35mm films (each holding up to 36 images) – was sitting in boxes just waiting to be catalogued by another eager volunteer. 

Serena was a musician, a motorcyclist, a feminist, a photographer – “my kind of woman”, thought Lesley! In her talk, Lesley will show a small sample of Serena’s photographs and will share some of her research about her work.

You can view the Serena Wadham archive on our photo archive website here.

Tickets are allocated by a ballot system. Please email enquiries@morrablibrary.org.uk or call 01736 364474 to be entered into the ballot for a ticket. The ballot closes on Monday 9th October. Entry to this event is free but donations are welcomed to help support Morrab Library (suggested £5). Refreshments will be provided after the talk.