Ian Bennett, Milliner in Louth.

 I often go to Louth, as regular visitors to my blog will know.  On a warm evening in May a few photographer friends & I, plus Popcorn of course, had a stroll around Louth, to take a few photographs.  My favourite part of Louth is a short, cobbled street called New Street.  

Tucked away on one side of New Street is a really cool shop, cool in all senses of the word, Ian Bennett's Milliners Hat Shop.  (No relation to myself by the way).  I took a few photo's but of course the shop was closed.  So, I made the decision to return on a weekday and see if I could be allowed to take photo's of the interior and, hopefully Ian at work also.  Ian was most obliging and allowed me and Popcorn in.

It was one of the most intriguing photo visits I ever had, such an interesting place and a real treat to see a craftsman artisan at work.  

Ian Bennett's Milliners Shop in Louth, taken on my evening visit in May.

Red, white & blue are my favourite colour combinations so I had to take this.
Even with some reflections, which I actually like!

Then on to my return visit in June, this is New Street and Ian's shop is on the left.

A view inside and a range of hand created hats.

This one would be very suitable for Royal Ascot, I'm sure.

Looking out, through Ian's shop to New Street.

Another stunning creation, and a glimpse of a photo of our late Queen Elizabeth II.

Ian proudly displays a photo of Queen Elizabeth as he made hats for Her Majesty!!

This is Ian at work on one of his creations.

These are for shaping hats during creation, I don't know their correct name.
I should have asked, but Ian had customers.

Ian talking to a customer who required a hat to be created.

Ian makes/creates all kind of hats, here we see gentleman's Top Hats. 

Not only was Ian Milliner to our Queen, he is one of the only two Milliners in the world
still making hand made silk top hats!

And with my visit over, a final photo of this fascinating shop, tucked away in Louth.
It's no wonder I keep going back to Louth as there's always something new and interesting I
haven't seen before.  Thank you Ian, for allowing me into your intriguing shop.


Nikon Z6ii plus 24 - 120mm lens.

 

The Chalets on The Fitties.

 Popcorn & I had a walk around the Fitties Chalet camp recently.  I post pics from there from time to time so took my camera along for an update.  Nothing really changes down there, so apologies to anyone who's seen the chalets before.

Below is a summary of the chalets, "borrowed" off the internet.

Humberston Fitties is a holiday park located in Humberston, Lincolnshire, known for its unique and historic chalets and bungalows. The Fitties, as it's called locally, is a charming holiday destination on the coast, with a history dating back to the inter-war period. The park features a variety of chalets and bungalows, some of which are over a century old. 

This chalet, like a lot of them, has been very well maintained and is very colourful. 

Like many of the chalets, it has a very appropriate sign.

Blue seems to be a popular colour.

A bit of blossom when we were down there. Forsythia?

A porchway in the shade of trees.

This is my favourite chalet on the Fitties camp.  It's owned by a dog lover, as the
various signs will show.

My favourite sign (the one below the wheel) which says "Dogs welcome, People tolerated"

It's worth viewing these signs large.

A general view in the Fitties Chalet Camp.

The next few pics are of humorous signs seen here & there.

This is my favourite sign, makes me chuckle whenever I see people reading it!

I spotted what I thought was some ladies doing craftwork.  After a quick introduction
from me they asked me in to see what they were making.

A lot of the items were pebbles and shells off the nearby beach which they painted
and crafted into various ornamental things.

I enjoyed a pleasant 20 minutes or so in conversation with them.
Popcorn enjoyed all the attention they gave him too!

I took quite a lot of photo's but I'll finish with this one of an old chalet undergoing
major renovation.  Most of the original chalets were built on a wooden framework. 

Nikon Z6ii plus 24 - 120 lens.

Post Cards from Cleethorpes.

 Popcorn & had a walk along the Cleethorpes seafront last week and, as usual, I had my camera with me.  There were lots of visitors enjoying the seafront, although the weather was a bit "iffy" with heavy cloud mixed with sunshine.

One of my favourite photographers is Martin Parr, who made his name taking very colourful "street photo's" at various seaside resorts.  As most of you know, I love COLOUR in my photo's so I decided to take a few "Postcard Pictures" with more than just a nod to Martin's work.  I took quite a lot, as you might expect, here are just a few of them.

Wet suits and paddle boards at "Reef Rash" just opposite Brighton Street Slipway.

Our new RNLI station, now almost complete.  Just a few cosmetic jobs needed.
I've been photographing this project at all it's stages since the first piles were driven in.
I'll feature some of the pictures in a future blog. 

The Pier, viewed from the walkway along the side of the RNLI station.

Memorial Gate, Ross Castle and Julie's Ice Cream Shop.

Everything you need for a day on Cleethorpes Beach.

This is the current RNLI shop, soon to vacate to larger premises within the new lifeboat station. 

A general view along the promenade.

"Elles", recently extended and re decorated.

The beach was quite busy, despite the changeable weather.

The sign on the deckchair hut is painted in the style of Donald McGill, known for his
saucy postcards which he published from 1904 until he died in 1962.

People enjoying ice creams and fish & chips.

As is my way, I had to include a dog in my walk around.

Back to the start and a view of the new Lifeboat Station and our Victorian Pier.
Now possibly the largest fish & chip shop in the UK?
Owned by Pappas, fish & Chip Shop chain.

Nikon Z6ii plus 24 - 120mm lens.