Again, when it came to passing on the family business quarrels ensued this time between James and his son Frank. Unable to work together Frank spent some time working for photographers in Cornwall learning about new technology. This had become a bone of contention between father and son with Frank feeling that James had fallen behind the times.
He returned to Scilly in 1957 and worked in partnership with his father for two years. After this time it was apparent that they could not work together and James retired to Cornwall and sold the business to Frank. Under Frank’s stewardship the business expanded. He produced postcards and sold souvenirs to supplement the photography, and opened another shop. Scilly is always in the news and there is always demand for pictures by the press. Although always aware of the need to be commercial Frank has steadfastly been conscientious of the need to record life and events on Scilly for historical purposes.
Photography has always been his only hobby and passion. He takes pictures for his love of the art and for his need to preserve for future generations what life on Scilly has been over the years. He takes pictures not just when something out of the ordinary happens but on a day to day basis. He can still be seen taking pictures of fisherman painting their boats, bringing in their pots, farmers picking flowers and various other minutiae of daily life in Scilly. He has been taking pictures in Scilly for 60 years and his contribution to the archive is almost too vast to comprehend.
Picture caption: Frank Gibson