Bill Rowntree

Posted: September 16th, 2015

BILL ROWNTREE worked his first Saturday shift for then Sunday Mirror picture editor Derek Jameson in 1964. Bill was sent to watch the Beatles and got four pix in the paper.

He arrived in the UK from New Zealand in August 1963 and his first regular job was with the Keystone Picture Agency. Bill joined Mirror Group as staff photographer in 1965. He worked on the Sunday Mirror, where he was on the NUJ committee and then FOC, then was headhunted by the Daily in 1974 after covering the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. He served as photographers’ union rep on the Daily Mirror, and held various chapel offices.

Bill took early retirement in 2001 and, with wife Sandy, divides his time between grandparent duties, helping to run the block of flats where they live, travelling, and – of course – the Association of Mirror Pensioners.