"Getting started in business."

A review of University Cameras by James (Jim) Empson. written on Wednesday 14th of May 2014

Gruffed (Griff) Reece came to Cambridge with his wife, Nancy during WW2 and was stationed at Marshalls airfield as a flying instructor on Tiger Moths. He was demobilized from that field after the war and started University Cameras in St. Mary's Passage next to Ryder and Amies outfitters. He was helped in establishing this business by Frank Hatton of Southall Bros. & Barclay, Birmingham who were chemist wholesalers with an emerging photographic dept. after the war. Only UK made equipment was available; German items were not on free import until 1961 and Japanese, some time later - with The Rank Organization for example, being the first oficial importers of the renowned Pentax series. They were interesting times indeed. I left the RAF in 1953 where I was on a squadron of Photo. recce. Spitfires & Mosquito's at RAF Benson with Wng/Cdr (then) Hughie Edwards,VC - a very happy camp, later being posted to RAF Bassingbourn, where we received the first PR Canberras. There were many crashes in those days whilst new technology was being pushed to the limits. But back to Griff Reece. After demob, I half heartedly walked into University Cameras and asked if there were any staff vacancies. "Can you start now" said Griff at 12,30pm on a wednesday! So it was, that I smartened the look of the premisses AND increased turn-over. Two years later, he asked me to "have a look at the Reading branch" I did the same there and after five years with Reece, decided to launch my own business. I eventually sorced an overdraft from Loyds Bank of £1500 and gave in my notice. I was now on my own, with a wife and two schoolboy sons to support. The business was a success from week one and traded for almost fifty years. I called it Anglia Cameras, of Ipswich! .

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