PHOTOGRAPHER HARRY GOODWIN LEAVES PHOTOS OF THE BEATLES TO THE CHRISTIE

During his long career photographer Harry Goodwin rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s biggest stars.
The Fallowfield-born lensman - who worked as resident photographer at Top of the Pops - snapped intimate portraits of stars including The Beatles and Bob Dylan.
Veteran photographer Harry died two years ago, aged 89. But it has has now emerged he has left thousands of celebrity photographs to The Christie hospital in his will.
The collection of pictures, which includes photos of The Fab Four as well as Jimi Hendrix and Muhammed Ali, is now set to be auctioned off by the cancer treatment charity.

 

Celebrity photographer Harry Goodwin has left thousands of pictures to The Christie in his will.

Harry, who worked as resident photographer for Top of the Pops from 1964 to the 70s, spent most of his life living in Manchester, with his love of photography beginning during World War II when his job was to load cameras on reconnaissance planes in Burma.

After the war he returned to Manchester and began taking pictures at beauty pageants.

Harry first captured The Beatles in 1963 at The Apollo in Manchester and went on to form a close relationship with the band.

In 2007 Yoko One opened a permanent exhibit of his photographs at the John Lennon Airport in Liverpool.

The collection of images also include a number of Manchester United players over the years including George Best, Denis Law, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Eric Cantona.

In 2009 he was honoured by the Lord Mayor of Manchester with a lifetime achievement award and more recently an exhibition of his work was on display at the Lowry.

The Christie charity is working with auction house Ewbank’s, in Surrey, to host an exhibition of the iconic pieces of work.Ewbank’s is waiving the commission fee, so the entire hammer total will go to The Christie.

Funds raised by the sale will go towards research, funding cancer fighting technology and providing patient care.

Marie Toller, major relationships manager at The Christie, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Harry Goodwin for thinking of The Christie in his will. Harry left some incredibly prized photos to us. He also left a financial gift which will go towards supporting both our current and future patients.“Over the last five years The Christie charity has received over £5million through gifts in wills of all different sizes. These gifts allow us to continue to invest in the best treatment, care and research for our patients.”

They can also be viewed in person at Ewbank’s Auction House on October 28 and October 29 from 10am-5pm. The sale of the photos and negatives is taking place on October 30 at 12pm.