My stepfather, John McGlashan, who has died aged 86, was a talented and prolific cinematographer whose work formed a significant contribution to British film and television over the past 60 years.
John was an only child, born in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, on the North Island of New Zealand, and grew up on a sheep farm run by his father, John McGlashan. His mother, Bernice (nee Wrightson), was a busy farmer’s wife. He had an idyllic childhood, roaming the hillsides, and sometimes joining his father on horseback when they were mustering the sheep. The nearest house was five miles away and the school bus picked him up from his gate.
He was inspired by the 1942 film classic Casablanca to apply for a job as an assistant cinema projectionist on leaving school at 16. His first assignment was the Queen’s visit to New Zealand in 1953. His dream, however, was to join the celebrated BBC Film Unit in Ealing, west London, and, following a four-week journey by sea, he eventually secured his first job at the BBC, where he remained for 35 years.
In the late 1950s and 60s he was resident cameraman on the Monitor arts programme, working with such directors as Ken Russell, John Schlesinger and Ken Loach. In the 70s, he shot a mixture of dramas and documentaries, notably The Ascent of Man (1973) and The Shock of the New (1980), all of which were inspirational for him. During the late 70s, his credits also included TV shows such as Porridge and Doctor Who during Tom Baker’s era.
A highlight for John was working with the poet Sir John Betjeman, with whom he shared an interest in churches, and who became a friend; A Passion for Churches (1974) and Metro-Land (1973) were directed by Edward Mirzoeff, and Summoned by Bells (1976) was directed by Jonathan Stedall. Subsequent filming with Jonathan in India ignited John’s love of that country.
John was nominated for Bafta awards in 1991 for the drama series Clarissa, in 1992 for Natural Lies and in 1993 for both The Buddha of Surbubia and Scarlet and Black. He was proposed as a member of the British Society of Cinematographers by Michael Samuelson in 1993.
In 1994 he retired from the BBC but continued to work freelance on a variety of dramas for 10 years until the age of 70, including a number of Silent Witness two-parters. His swansong came as three happy years in the Highlands, as director of photography for Monarch of the Glen (2003-05).
He was a modest man, known for his gentle and reserved manner, and throughout his life pursued a spiritual vocation. For many years he was a practising Liberal Catholic priest at St Francis church, Camberley, Surrey, and later also served as a deacon at St Barnabas church, Ealing.
In 1988 he met Judy Bramwell (nee Steward), when they worked together on a BBC documentary, Steel City, which was shot in India, and they married in 1990. He had two earlier marriages, to Anne (nee Bryer), with whom he had four children, and to Patricia (nee Curtis). John is survived by Judy, his children, Paul, Mark, Ruth and Stephen, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
