Very saddened to hear of the passing of one of the all time greatest press photographers Fleet Street has ever had. John Downing passed away peacefully early this morning. An inspiration to many; kind, passionate and generous, sharing his unlimited passion for photography. Alongside the numerous awards, honours and an MBE for services to journalism, he was one of the co-founders of The PPA in 1984 which went on to become The BPPA (British Press Photographers’ Association). Within weeks of starting photography as a hobby, I read how John was the only photographer to have his camera with him (A Sureshot I recall?) after a day’s work, when the IRA bombed the Conservative Party’s conference at Brighton’s Grand Hotel in 1984. As a result, I have always had a camera to hand. Reading how he was smuggled into Afghanistan in the early 80s, dressed in a burqa, was truly amazing. His photographs helped form a huge part of my education into powerful photojournalism, combining journalistic content with an aesthetic which drew the viewer in and spoke to the heart as well as the mind. If you’re not familiar with John’s work, I can’t recommend his book “Legacy” highly enough. Just Google it. Photographs: John Downing; Legacy. A small gathering of friends and colleagues gather for his book launch at the London Welsh Centre, Gray's Inn Road, London, UK. John was also a passionate singer and the London Welsh Male Voice Choir invite John to join with them in song. John Downing in a Nikon advert for the FM and FE cameras, 'The photographers in our picture all work for eleven of the most famous newspapers in Fleet Street’. Photographer Edmond Terakopian beside "The Joys Of Life", which was one of two images selected for the exhibition and legendary press photographer John Downing (on right) who was also one of the curators of the show. BPPA Assignments 2019 photography exhibition (on from 17th to 19th May, 2019) at Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, UK. May 16, 2019. #johndowning #johndowninglegacy #pressphotographer #pressphotography #photojournalism #photojournalist #inmemory #rip https://www.instagram.com/p/B-uA-FNHEr7/?igshid=fdh06ttyfbz8