The Bob Kin Collection

Bob Kin was, by all accounts, a lovely man. 

He was a well-known face in High Wycombe and served as a councillor. He also got involved in many charitable ventures and projects for the benefit of local people - most recently the Wycombe Food Hub.

The Hub isn't a food bank - it's a redistribution centre. Volunteers collect residual food from supermarkets, restaurants and food outlets at the end of every day and then the Hub makes it available for pennies the following day. It's all completely edible food that would otherwise be thrown away because it may have damaged packaging, or because it may be close to its use-by date. Whatever the reason, the Hub stops it from just being thrown away. Anyone can shop at the Hub - rich or poor - as its primary function is to reduce waste. All it will cost you is £3 to fill a handbasket. It means that people can retain their dignity without having to ask for handouts. That said, if people have no money at all - such as the homeless - the Hub will give food for free. And none of this costs the taxpayer a single penny. The Hub also supports local homeless charities, and any food that goes past its use-by date is donated to farms as animal feed. Incredibly, the Hub currently prevents five tons of perfectly good food going to landfill every month. Isn't that staggering? The Hub is a brilliant thing and Bob was one of its staunchest supporter. 

Tragically, however, the Hub - and the town - lost him in January while he was making one of his collections. But he left behind a rich legacy, both in terms of his lovely daughter Rachela and Bobkin's Bazaar - a new venture for the Food Hub that he helped to create, which makes affordable clothing, toys and household appliances available for pennies. 

And there's another legacy too. Bob was something of a 'skip-diver' and recycler. And, at some time during his life, he acquired hundreds of rolls of developed film - all photos of his beloved High Wycombe and its environs. No one is quite sure where he got them or who from but the photos are wonderful. Here's a sample:

Aren't they amazing? Bob's wife Rosie and the family have passed his collection on to m'chum Mark Page, a local award-winning photographer, and he's scanning them and placing them online in an archive here. 

Do go and have a look.

The Bob Kin Collection is wonderful. 

As, indeed, was Bob.