Tributes for former Welwyn Hatfield Times photographer

TRIBUTES have poured in to the Welwyn Hatfield Times following the death of the paper’s former chief photographer Denis Williams. Mr Williams died at his home in Oakdale in WGC on Friday, aged 76.

A well-known figure in the town, Mr Williams was the Welwyn Hatfield Times chief photographer from 1959 until 1991.

He maintained close personal links with the paper right up until his death, often phoning or dropping by the offices in Howardsgate with pictures and story ideas.

This week Welwyn Hatfield Times editor Terry Mitchinson led tributes to his former colleague.

“Denis was a one-off and will be missed by all of us who knew him,” he said.

“He was a brilliant man to work with and learn from. He was professional, hugely enthusiastic and always determined to do the best job possible.”

Mr Williams’ long-term friend Dr Dennis Lewis also paid tribute.

“Denis and I had known one another for about 45 years,” he said.

“He was a highly professional and gifted photographer, and he justifiably collected many awards over a long and illustrious career.

It was a privilege to have known him, he remained loyal to his friends and we occasionally met up to walk down memory lane and talk about friends and colleagues now long departed.

I shall miss him - he was an integral part of WGC and a keen recorder of this town’s rich heritage over five of its nine decades.”

For more tributes to Denis Williams, see this week’s Welwyn Hatfield Times, out now.