TRIBUTES have been paid to a Wirral pensioner who spent his working life behind the lens and helped budding photographers for more than 50 years.

Local businessman Jack Fair – who, along with twin brother Bill, opened Birkenhead’s Fairs Cameras in 1945 – died on March 9 at Birch Tree Manor care home, Port Sunlight.

“It was just old age,” said daughter Judith Robinson, 57.

“He said he had had enough and wanted to go and as always, he got his own way.”

Born in Tranmere in 1914, Jack is survived by daughter Judith, twin brother Bill and grandchildren Daniel and Kate.

At 21, the brothers joined the RAF and served together through the war as reconnaissance photographers in Egypt and Greece.

When they returned, Bill formed the Birkenhead-based Fairs Cameras, which was originally a portrait studio, and when Jack returned from a sixth-month stint in Canada, he too joined the family business.

Despite selling the business a few years ago, Fairs Cameras lives on in Old Chester Road.

After marrying wife Muriel – who died three years ago, Jack had two children, Judith and Graham.

Mrs Robinson said: “Dad had a lot of friends, both here and abroad – friends all over the world really.

“He was very generous and he gave a lot of time and money to people. He was very handy and loved his woodwork and making things, and of course his photography.

“He wrote for Wirral Champion Magazine for years and they even brought a book out about their experiences called Jack and Bill’s War – they went through everything together.”

As well as his love for photography and woodwork, Jack was also a keen dancer and would often visit Hulme Hall with Bill.

His funeral was held at Landican Cemetery on March 17.

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