Tributes paid to 'fantastic' grandad and camera club member

Brian Barnes, 80 lived in Bournemouth and was described as a loving family man who had a love for photography for more than 30 years.

He was also a well-known member of the Daily Echo’s Dorset Camera Club, a social media page that allows photographers across Dorset to showcase their artwork.

Brian was particularly interested in photographing wildlife such as birds and deer.

He contributed to the page for six years and many of Brian's photographs were featured multiple times in the newspaper.

One of his seven grandchildren, Livi Waters, reminisced about her grandad, she said: “He was the rock of our family, he had loved all his great-grandchildren, his children, and his wife."

Brian was diagnosed with prostate cancer, with doctors saying it would be a five-year survival rate.

Exceeding the odds, Brian continued to live for another 15 years, surrounded by family.

Livi added: “Over the past month, he got a diagnosis of liver and bone cancer, which was a complication from the prostate cancer.

“Then we did our last family holiday together on May 8 in Devon. He was quite poorly for that, but we made it as good as we could.

“Over the past two weeks, he obviously went downhill quite fast, a lot faster than we all anticipated and sadly he passed away on Tuesday.”

Brian died on May 28 surrounded by his loving family.

Livi also mentioned Brian’s love of photography, she added: “He appeared in the Bournemouth Echo many times for work he put in the camera club.

“He was a very talented photographer and an even more fantastic grandad.”

He was a father to three children and two stepchildren, he also had two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and seven grandchildren.

Dean Mason, one of Brian’s friends and a fellow photographer, also paid tribute to Brian.

He said: “ Beautiful man, your long battle is over and you are now in safe hands within God's Garden, but your legacy, love, friendship, and kindness will live in my heart forever.”