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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.

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The shoe shine "boy" had a late night last night!
1954

This smart soldier in civilian clothes decides to have someone else clean his shoes for a change
1954

This old tramp was a regular sight in the town. I took this picture outside the Spitfire Cabaret
1954

When I got this picture he got fed up with me and threw his stick at me! You can just see the stick on the right
1954

The Ambassador Nightclub in the centre of Famagusta at night, a regular haunt for the troops
1954

Famagusta high street looking towards the Spitfire Cabaret at night
1954

An old shoe mender works by the side of the road in Famagusta
1954

A lady spinning
1954

A company making orange boxes
1954

These ladies are stencilling the orange company's name on the boxes
1954

More Backgammon, Cyprus brandy and Coke outside the café
1954

Vic McGarry, one of our friends buys some roasted nuts from a roadside vendor in Famagusta
1954

An old man tries to earn enough to buy some food by playing his violin
1954

The Famagusta outside cinema. We enjoyed many films here
1954

In the mid 1950's this house was considered to be one of the finest in Famagusta
1954

A view across Famagusta rooftops looking towards the sea
1954

A market stall
1954

The carpenters making wooden farmers implements, ploughs etc
1954

Market day in one of the villages. I'm afraid I can't remember which one
1954

It's a lovely atmosphere going round the village with the local people
1954

This Cypriot crowd had been to some sort of village festival
1954

The policeman in the centre seems to be trying to "control" the crowd getting on the bus
1954

The farming in early 1950's was very basic and hard work
1954

The army had their own place on Famagusta beach where the troops could get changed and have a beer after their swim. I think it was named St Georges Hotel
1954

Richard Chamberlain Collection