‘Walk N Talk’ Redcar founder wins ‘Surf and Turf’ photography competition.
Gareth Howell, who set up the men’s mental health awareness group ‘Walk N Talk’ last year, has won our ‘Surf and Turf’ themed photography competition.
We received around 60 fantastic entries into the competition, but Gareth’s superb photo at Cattersty Sands in East Cleveland, just edged it! Gareth won a prize of £100, kindly provided by Materials Processing Institute.
Gareth Howell is presented with his prize cheque by Andrew Cargill from sponsor, Materials Processing Institute; with Richard Baker, Place Marketing Manager.
Gareth’s winning photo, below, stood out to each member of our judging panel – it offered something that little bit different – putting a very unique perspective on a beautiful part of our coastline. Gareth said “I walk around Redcar and Cleveland a lot, and often have my camera with me, and when I saw the ‘pillbox’ on the beach I knew that it would give a great frame to the photo”.
Gareth’s winning entry, taken at Cattersty Sands, Skinningrove.
The pillbox to which Gareth refers is the remains of a second world war coastal defence structure which was originally higher up the cliff, but has fallen due to coastal erosion over the 70 years.
Gareth went on to say how much he loves our place, “I’m an avid fan of where we live and I’m grateful for living in such a beautiful place. I have hundreds of photos of the local area, and this is one of my favourite recent ones I’ve taken”.
Getting out and about in our wonderful place is something Gareth has channelled productively. Last year he set up a group for men to talk about their mental health, ‘Walk N Talk’.
Gareth explains – “The idea was just to get people together, talking,” said Gareth who served in the army for over 23 years and was a Staff Sergeant in the Royal Corps of Signals.
“Sadly there was a number of suicides in the area, so I got the Walk n Talk Facebook group together and we put a few flyers out and 20-odd men turned up for the first walk to Marske and back. We’ve had over 650 people join the group. There is a need out there. The Facebook group is good for lads just having little chats with each other. Of course, we signpost people to mental health experts whenever needed.”
Men in the Redcar area can get in touch with Gareth and other members of the Walk N Talk group at https://www.facebook.com/WNTREDCAR/
