THERE has been a huge public response to an appeal to find people in pictures taken by Swindon photographer Albert Beaney.

Back to Black and White will see young people research thousands of photos taken of local people and places by the late photographer from the 1940s to 1970s.

The children want to interview anyone who was snapped by him in the Gorse Hill, Parks, Penhill, Pinehurst or Old Town areas, or who remember any of the people or places in the images.

Last week, the Swindon Advertiser published a selection of the photos and more than 60 people have contacted Create Studios to identify themselves and share their memories, including Mr Beaney’s son Trevor.

The 64-year-old, of Meadowcroft, said he has three large boxes of his father’s old pictures at home and is in favour of the project.

He said: “I’m all for it because me and my brother were saying the other day that we would like to have another exhibition sometime in the town, just putting all the photographs around so people can recognise themselves.

“My dad would have loved it. Photography was his hobby, going around taking photographs of local stuff. Ever since he was a kid he used to carry his camera all the time and he was never without it.”

Mr Beaney, who died in 2009, took portrait and landscape images in the Swindon area during the era and left behind a collection of about 40,000 of his negatives and prints.

Back to Black and White, a partnership between Swindon Council’s Create Studios, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, and Swindon Youth Forum, is funded with a £25,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Resident Jennifer Jones recognised herself and her sister as little girls in one of the shots.

Lloyd Reynolds, who emigrated to Canada in 1981, read the article online and emailed in to say he remembered being photographed in the 1950s when he was about six.

Marilyn Fitzgerald, Create Studios’ production manager, said: “We have had an incredible response, with over 60 people contacting us about their photos and memories in this week alone.

“We will try to document all that information, and share it with pupils working on this project over the coming months.”

About 12 teenagers from Swindon Youth Forum will pilot the project by studying the old images, taking their own photos, and recording interviews with some of the people who are in the old photos or remember the locations from the day.

The old and new photographs, plus the children’s findings, will be displayed in a preliminary exhibition at the Artsite Gallery in Theatre Square from August 17 to 20.

Anyone who recognises themselves in the images or remembers the places in the photos can call Marilyn on 01793 465333 or email mfitzgerald2@swindon.gov.uk