Parkin's legacy – a unique record of Teesdale life

A PASSIONATE photographer who amassed an unparalleled pictorial record of Teesdale life has died aged 82.
Frederick Parkin Raine collected thousands of images and documents of Barnard Castle and the dale, depicting how its landscape, its built environment and its people evolved over two centuries.
The honorary freeman of the town passed away last Thursday, April 13, after a four year battle with Alzheimer’s.
Known as Parkin to many, Mr Raine attended Barnard Castle School on a scholarship.
He joined the BBC as a trainee sound engineer in 1955 and took a job in Glasgow – sparking a lifelong affinity for Scotland and good whisky.
His passion for history and photography was kindled later in life after investigating an old family photo.
Mr Raine’s niece, Gillian Harrison, said he was a gentlemen who wasn’t one for wasting energy or time.
“I never knew him without a camera,” she said.
“He always had one in his hand and if it wasn’t in his hand there was one in his glovebox.”
“He wasn’t that interested in modern day people – it was the story behind the picture or a building.”
Some of Mr Raine’s pictures came from his own hand while many others were collected from sources ranging from 19th century photographer, Elijah Yeoman, to newspaper archives.
His exhibitions at village halls and The Witham attracted thousands of dale folk before he became ill.
Mrs Harrison said Mr Raine never had a passport as “Britain had too much to offer him” and revealed how he traced his own Teesdale roots back to the 1400s”.
She added: “He had Tees water running through his veins. He was very proud of the Parkin name – Parkin Raine the fiddler used to play weddings and functions in the 1700s.
“He always said he believed himself to be the last Parkin Raine.
“He was very proud of Teesdale and very much wanted it on the map.”
Mr Raine worked alongside Middleton-in-Teesdale's Fitzhugh Library and donated his photos to create a record of Teesdale history.
After taking early retirement, he took a course in carpentry and taught himself to cook alongside his archival passions.
Recent technological changes have given his collection a new lease of life with his photos open to a global audience on Facebook.
History enthusiast Gary Marshall runs the Ye Olde Teesdale Tales and Photos Facebook page and nominated Mr Raine as an Honourary Freeman in 2015.
A steady stream of images from Mr Raine’s collection has reunited Teesdale folk from around the globe on the social media site.
Mr Marshall said: “This is very sad news and a great loss to the town.
“Parkin’s collection and what he did for this town was huge.
“We have really lost one of our major figures. Personally, I have lost a man who gave me direction.
“I always knew I wanted to do something with history and then I met Parkin who showed me what I could do.”
Mrs Harrison thanked the staff of the Manor House care home, in Barnard Castle, on behalf of the family for all their work caring for Mr Raine in his final years.
Mr Raine is survived by his sister, Betty Beadle, and his funeral arrangement will be announced soon.