The discovery of a photo from 20 years ago spurred a group of former Bristol Junior Chamber members to turn the clock back two decades to recreate it.
The reunion photo shoot was organised by accountant Edward Corrigan – who now runs his own firm Corrigan Associates – after he found the photo while moving files during an office move.
Back in 1996 the Spice Girls reached number one for the first time with ‘Wannabe’, Man Utd beat Liverpool 1:0 in the FA Cup final with an Eric Cantona goal – and a group of active members of the Bristol Junior Chamber (BJC) posed for an official photograph outside the entrance to Bristol Zoo.
Finding the photo 20 years on triggered a hunt for the individuals. Edward successfully located most of them – many still working in and around Bristol – and suggested they meet up in exactly the same place and for a new photo. They leapt at the chance and, looking only slightly older and with hair a shade or two greyer, adopted their positions in the original picture.
Among those reunited for the occasion was former BJC president Philip Hillman, now international director at property agents JLL, who had worn his chain of office in the 1996 photo.
He was joined by this year’s president Oliver Brown of investment management company R C Brown – who replaced Philip in the centre of the front row – as well as Hannah Cameron, of Cameron Balloons, Paul Brown, CEO of Mail Handling International, and Mark Roach, now of Quantuma, along with Andrew Forbes, Simon Storvik, Simon Cross and Graham Russell – all now successfully running their own businesses.
Edward Corrigan said: “I thought it would be fun to try and recreate the photo 20 years on. It’s a measure of the success of the BJC that many of the members have gone on to become senior business people or run their own businesses locally.”
Bristol Junior Chamber promotes trade and commerce in Bristol and develop the interests of its member, who are all under 40.
Among the organisation’s notable successes are the origination of the Bristol Annual Balloon Fiesta and the publication of Secret Underground Bristol.
Pictured: Then, top, the photo from 1996, and as they are now 20 years on. Edward Corrigan is on the right of the front row in both
