“Rocker” and a Toad, Seacoal Camp, Lynemouth, Northumberland, 1983, Chris Killip, gelatin silver print
The J. Paul Getty Museum, purchased with funds provided by the Photographs Council. © Chris Killip
Transcript
Chris Killip: I like keeping in contact with people.
[music evoking intimate setting]
Female Narrator: Chris Killip often develops friendships with the subjects in his photographs, like the young boy named Rocker who appears in this image and several others in the exhibition.
Chris Killip: He’s explaining to me the difference between a frog and a toad. (laughs) When I first met Rocker, I think he was about seven years old, and so I spent three years on and off watching him grow, but I then stayed in touch with the family when I wasn’t photographing there anymore.
[music ends]
Female Narrator: More than thirty years later, Chris Killip is still in touch with Rocker, now the leading driver of harness racing horses in the UK.
Chris Killip: He’s big-time as a trainer/driver. When I went to see, him he was building a McMansion. When I saw the stables, I started to cry, because I could remember this boy scrabbling along, very industrious, getting coal to save his money. He was always saving his money. He wanted to buy a horse. For me it’s a remarkable achievement, all the things that he’s done.
Female Narrator: Chris Killip also became close friends with Rocker’s parents, Brian and Rosie, while living in Lynemouth.
[music evoking intimate setting]
Chris Killip: I was standing with Brian one day and a school inspector drove up and came up to Brian and said, “Shouldn’t that boy be in school?” And Brian said, “He is in school.” And the school inspector said, “He’s not, he’s on the beach.” And Brian said, “That is his school. He’ll learn all he needs to make a living from this beach. He’ll never be a burden on anybody. He will be self-sufficient his whole life.” The school inspector thought Brian was making fun of him, and he wasn’t. He was actually telling the truth. (laughs) The school inspector walked off in a huff. But, it proved to be true. He’s never worked for anybody but himself, and done very well.
[music ends]