BUSHY PARK’S BEST-KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER HANGS UP HER LENS
The Friends of Bushy and Home Parks today paid an affectionate farewell to the Parks’ unofficial ‘photo-ambassador’ Sue Lindenberg.
A small ‘tea and cake’ reception for Sue was held at The Pheasantry with members of the Friends and supporters thanking her for her contribution to bringing the park to life for so many.
Sue told the guests it was exactly 24 years ago today (Monday) that she arrived here from South Africa to care for her ageing parents and discovering the hidden photographic treasures of the park.
“It has given me so much joy to be there in the mornings when the park wakes up and the wildlife is just stretching its legs, free of stress and planning their day,” an emotional Sue told Teddington Town.
Chair of the Friends Colin Muid paid tribute to Sue’s ‘massive contribution’ to the Park and how she had become the park’s ‘ambassador’ through all the photos she has happily shared so widely and freely.
He said: “It’s not just the Friends that you have been generous to but the entire community who now know you as the ‘Bushy Park photographer’ and you have brought the park into so many people’s lives.”
Sue, now 80 years old and a former marathon runner and triathlete until well into her 60’s, is packing up her lens (a new lightweight Panasonic LUMIX G911) and moving to Yorkshire near Hebden Bridge to be near her two daughters.
After being presented with a gift and a beautiful screen print of a kingfisher in the park, from Rebecca Harvey, she said: “I am totally overwhelmed.
“I do feel as if Bushy Park is my second home. It was really the lockdown when I was able to get into the park for my exercise and taking photos gave me absolute joy. It was only then that I really understood how much my photos are appreciated.
”There’s something about this park and I don’t think there’s anything quite like it. I feel very privileged to have been a member of the Friends and a volunteer.”
She became a familiar figure on her bicycle, often at unearthly times of the morning at 4.15am or 4.45am and heading to her favourite spots around the Heron Pond and The Leg of Mutton pond where she captured so many amazing images of the sunrise and waking wildlife or to Teddington Lock where she studies the weather before setting off on her photo missions. “I think I can read the skies,” she said.
Sue admitted: “I’m not really sure how I’m going to manage without my visits to Bushy Park but I’m so pleased and delighted that I’ve brought the park into so many people’s lives.”