Happy snappers have been gathering in a small corner of Calne for the last 35 years – charting the town’s history through their lenses.

The Calne Woodlands Camera Club was founded in 1974 and was originally known as Calne Camera and Cine Club.

It was later adopted by Harris’ bacon factory and the name was accordingly changed to Calne Harris Camera Club.

The club started off in Marden House on the wharf but was later moved to a temporary building in the grounds of The Woodlands.` The group moved to its current building, Woodlands Social Club on Station Road, in 1975 and shared the space with a canteen for the staff of Harris.

Chairman Eddy Lane said: “The biggest change for us is obviously the move to digital photography.

“It transformed what we did in the way of processing prints. Instead of working for hours in a dark room you can just use computer software in a matter of minutes.

“Digital photography means everyone can now give it a go and more people are enjoying the art.”

Mr Lane added: “Looking back over the last ten years, the most momentous occasion was three years ago when we were invited to be part of the Calne Music and Arts Festival.

“It was great because it allowed us to have our first public exhibition and more than 600 people visited us.

“It really raised the profile of the club and put us on the map.

“The cameras may have changed over the years but we are still as keen to capture great pictures.”

In July 1982 Harris ceased production and, following long discussions, in May 1984 the group bought its meeting room from Harris and changed the name of the club to its present title of Calne Woodlands Camera Club.

Two years later the group reached another landmark when members completed building a darkroom. But the full ambitions were thwarted as members had hoped to develop a studio but this never came to fruition because of safety fears concerning the lack of a suitable fire escape.

It took more than 30 years after the club began that they held their first ever public exhibition in the town.

The Calne Woodlands Photofest 2007 proved a massive hit with more than 150 prints on display to the public.

The club remains one of the only clubs in the area that has met every Monday for the last 30 years without fail and, excluding bank holidays, is one of the few clubs which does not have a break during the summer.

For more information about the club log onto its website www.calnecc.co.uk.