Battle of the Bogside photographer Clive Limpkin dies

Clive Limpkin passed away on Wednesday at his home outside London. He was aged 83.

Clive was back in Derry last summer to discuss the pictures that made him world famous, won him multiple awards and were the inspiration for some of the Bogside’s most famous wall murals.

His book, ‘The Battle of Bogside’, chronicling his time in Derry, was first published in 1979 and is now a collectors’ item.

It was republished to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the three-day battle that followed an Apprentice Boys march in the city.

Speaking to the ‘Journal’ in August 2019, he revealed that he almost slept through the defining moment of his career.

Having taken almost ten hours of pictures with little happening, the photographer - working at the time for London’s ‘Daily Sketch’ - fell asleep on a settee in the foyer of Derry’s old City Hotel.

When the trouble that would become known as the Battle of the Bogside eventually erupted, it was a young barman who woke him to tell him the rioting had started.

“I lifted my camera and just started to run towards the Bogside. He ran after me shouting that I hadn’t paid for my drinks. I dipped into my pocket and gave him £1 for the drink and £1 for saving my career!”

After Derry, Clive travelled to cover conflicts in places such as Angola and Cairo, but says Northern Ireland was still his biggest assignment.

“I knew I’d never do better work than I did at that time and, you know what, I’m fine with that,” he said.

Among those paying tribute to Mr Limpkin was the Museum of Free Derry which worked alongside him on republishing his book on the Battle of the Bogside.

Julieann Campbell, of the Museum, said: ““The museum team and our board at the Bloody Sunday Trust were devastated to hear of Clive’s passing this week. We’re very grateful to have hosted both Clive and his wife Alex last summer as part of our Battle of the Bogside 50th anniversary events and we realise now just how lucky we were to have him here.”

“Working alongside Clive on this project was a privilege for all involved, and we are thankful to him for entrusting the museum, Trust and Guildhall Press with republishing his most iconic work and breathing new life into it. Having helped immortalise our recent history, Clive will never be forgotten here in Derry.”

Paul Hippsley, managing editor, Guildhall Press, added: “Clive was considerate and gracious in all his dealings with media and public. He was a true gentleman.”