Richard Chamberlain Collection
The Richard Chamberlain collection contains around 300 black and white photographs, out of which around 160 were presented through the pages of the publication “Cyprus scenes and way of life 1954”. The collection is mainly focused in and around the town of Famagusta where the photographer was stationed as a soldier of the British army in 1954, but also features other areas of the island he visited during his military service. Unlike other photographers of the time, Richard Chamberlain did not stage or set the scenes he would photograph and did not focus on his military service. Instead, he turned his camera towards candid and casual moments happening around him, resulting in a unique and genuine testament of life in Cyprus in 1954.
Richard Chamberlain was born in England on 30 January 1935. At the age of 16, he got interested in photography after his older brother Michael made him a little camera out of a Colman’s mustard tin, which he used to take pictures of classmates in school. He first arrived in Cyprus as a British soldier at Nicosia airport on 28 May 1954, just a week before the military parade for Queen Elizabeth’s birthday in Famagusta which he photographed and is a significant part of his collection. As a Special Wireless Operator for the Royal Signals Regiment, he was stationed at “4 Miles Point” in Famagusta and that is why his collection is primarily focused on the town and its people. After returning to England he visited Cyprus about 15 times before finally deciding to move to the island. He now lives in Kyrenia.
In 2010, Richard Chamberlain published most of his 1954 images in his book “Cyprus Scenes and Way of Life in 1954/55” and in a second publication “Cyprus Scenes and Way of Life in 1954/55 and Sixty Years Later in 2014” revisiting most of the sites where he took his photos in 1954.
In 2021, he donated his photographic collection to the Centre of Visual Arts and Research in Nicosia, to be studied and published as a testament to life in Cyprus in 1954. The images that comprise the online collection were reproduced from the original black and white negatives. The titles were taken from inscriptions to the photographs given by the photographer in his publication. Where no inscriptions were available the titles were generated by the cataloguer describing the depicted subject. CVAR holds digital reproductions of the originals and shares copyrights with Richard Chamberlain.
The view from Mt. Olympus to Machairas
1954
The winding road in the Troodos valley
1954
The clear, dry atmosphere and warm days and cool nights, make Troodos an excellent health resort
1954
We make a cup of tea and get washed and we are on our way again round this lovely island
1954
We take a little break from sightseeing
1954
We admire the views from St Hilarion Castle
1954
And we are literally on top of the world!
1954
After the mountains, we visit the orange groves
1954
We have a look to see what is on the cinema in Nicosia
1954
Cyprus has some stunning coastlines
1954
Two of the lads admire the coastline and clear blue sea and wonder whether to dive in!
1954
Just South of Famagusta is one of the most famous cave areas called Agia Napa
1954
The lovely rocky coastline and clear blue seas looking out of from one of the caves at Agia Napa
1954
This is looking into one of the caves at Agia Napa. Mike can just be seen in the cave on the left
1954
The first imported locomotive
1954
Locomotive No.1
1954
Lastly, my twin brother Michael (on left) and I relax on our last day on the island at the edge of Famagusta beach where we have been so happy! Thank you for sharing this journey with us. Goodbye!
1954