Description: Samuel Bourne was born at Mucclestone, Staffordshire in 1834, the son of Thomas (farmer) and Harriet. He came to Nottingham in 1855 to work as an assistant at Moore and Robinson's Bank. An active amateur photographer, in 1859 he participated in the exhibition organised by the Nottingham Photographic Society. He went to India in 1862, spending several years travelling extensively with his camera. He was the first European traveller to photograph the wilder parts of the Himalayan foothills. When he returned to Nottingham, he entered the textile trade and afterwards built a large factory, Britannia Mills, at Netherfield. He married Mary Tolley in 1867. He was a prominent member of High Pavement Unitarian Chapel, and in later years a Magistrate. He was an artist, painting in watercolours, in 1880 being elected as President of the Nottingham Society of Artists. He died in April 1912. (information extracted from 'Pioneers of Photography' by Aaron Scharf, and 'Pioneers of Photography in Nottinghamshire 1841-1910' by Bernard and Pauline Heathcote)
[There is some doubt as to whether the older gentleman is Samuel Bourne the photographer. Thanks to contributor Anthony Davis who states: "Bourne went to India in 1863 and married in 1867" - he may be one of the younger members of the group, or the image may have been taken later than the date shown.]