IT’S the end of an era here at the Weekly News and the Bridgwater Mercury as we say goodbye to our photographer and local legend Jeff Searle.

Our man behind the lens has officially worked with us since 1998 but took photographs for the Mercury and Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News for six years before that as a freelancer.

Now at the age of 65 Jeff is moving into a state of semi-retirement.

“I left my job working at Cellophane to become a photographer when I was 30,” said Jeff as he recalled his time in the job. “I liked photography and did it as a hobby with work friends, and then one day I was asked to take pictures at a friend’s wedding. It all went on from there, really.

“I was a wedding photographer and then one day the editor asked me to do some freelance work. Five years later he invited me to join the team at the Bridgwater Mercury.”

Recalling his early days, he said: “To start off, I would be told where to go and what jobs to cover but eventually I got to know so many people the stories just came to me.”

Learning the ropes and keeping up with the pace in a high pressure news environment was not the only challenge Jeff faced as he made the transition from wedding photographer.

He also had to deal with some tough characters.

“I used to have to take photographs of Tom King, Bridgwater’s MP at the time, and he was a particularly difficult person to work with.

“I had to work for his respect before I could get him to do what I wanted for a picture and once I did he would always run up to me and ask for his picture taken from then on.”

Looking back over his Mercury and Weekly News years Jeff has a wealth of memories, some fond, some stressful and a few that are just downright hilarious.

“I’ve seen some things in my time, like the huge fire at Dan’s Breaker’s Yard with 20 fire engines tackling the flames.”

Thinking back to the floods at the beginning of 2014, Jeff said: “It was one of the busiest times of my career and it was such a terrible thing to have happened.

“One time, I was trying to get a shot of the flooding from a high point, so I decided to walk up to the top of Burrow Mump to get a picture of the water stretching on for miles across the Levels.

“Once I got some pictures I started to walk back down again but it was so wet I slipped and slid all the way down the mump, camera in my hand.

“I was absolutely caked in mud and so was my camera.”

The annual highlight of our photographer’s long and busy career has been Bridgwater Carnival.

“The biggest and best part of my picture-taking life has to be carnival and the concerts, which I absolutely love doing.

“I’ve done them for about 25 years because the staff photographer back in the day didn’t like doing it, so I would take pictures for the paper.

“Once I was on the scaffold tower at Bridgwater Carnival and people were passing up drinks to me and by the time the carnival had finished I was absolutely tiddled.

“I came back to the office afterwards and fell through the door.

“The then editor, Ken Bird, asked me if I had been drinking and I replied ‘no sir, I just tripped.’”

The most memorable Bridgwater Carnival Jeff can remember is the year the riverside wall collapsed because of the heavy rain.

“It was the same night of that crash on the M5 in 2011. I was rushing around like a mad man and that was a night to remember in terms of news.

“I have enjoyed every moment of my career working here with the people of Bridgwater – I’ve loved the job.”

Alex Cameron, editor of the Bridgwater Mercury said: “Jeff has been a brilliant ambassador for the company – he’s a true character with a heart of gold and we wish him all the best for the future.”

PAYING tribute to Jeff, Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said: “I first met Jeff when I was with the previous Bridgwater MP Tom King.

“No matter how stressful or difficult the situation was he always managed to get it right.

“He is a naturally talented man and he will be missed at the Mercury. He is Mr Bridgwater and everyone in and around the town knows him.”

Dave Stokes, publicity officer for Bridgwater Carnival, said: “Everyone involved in carnival knows and loves Jeff and everyone will miss him and his great personality.

“He has supported the carnival incredibly for so many years.

“I would like to thank him for everything he’s done for Bridgwater Carnival over the years.”

Alan Hurford, Bridgwater town clerk, said: “Jeff has been a big name in Bridgwater for many, many years now and he has served the people of this town with some of the best photos imaginable.

“And by the way Jeff, you owe me a beer!”