V J G R O U P . O R G

This is an example or hair trigger opportunism by Arthur Sidey when he was on an assignment for the Daily Mirror. The original assignment probably involved the opening of a new penguin enclosure at the zoo. On an assignment like this the experienced press photographer must look for something extra beyond the basic concept. It is not surprising that a child should be recruited. Sit the child on a wall with the penguin beside her and see what happens. The skill is being ready to shoot.

Cyril Smith was an MP who gave good value to the observant photojournalist. He was an ebullient man of good humour and often provided a desperate photographer with a good picture, especially at pictorially dull party conferences. Here he appears to be removing something from his eye. The observant photographer was ready for the shot and is probably imagining the caption of tomorrow's paper--'One in the Eye for Cyril'. It is possible that Cyril saw the lens pointing at him and intensified his eye gouging to make sure that he got some space in the paper.

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