Celebrating Neil Grant’s 40 years of service at the LMB

*Neil was recently presented with a commemorative plaque to mark his 40 years at the LMB*

The LMB congratulates Neil Grant, who this year reached the milestone of 40 years working at the LMB.

Neil is a familiar face to everyone at the LMB, having been a photographer and videographer in the LMB’s Visual Aids (later VisLab) department since September 1983. Almost everyone who has worked at the LMB in the past four decades has been photographed by Neil, many on their first day for an ID photo. This extends beyond the LMB as, when Neil joined, Visual Aids were part of the MRC Centre (housed at the LMB) and provided services for all the local MRC Units.

Visual Aids Group on the roof of the old LMB building, c. 1997 — *Visual Aids Group, c. 1997. Left to right; Shirley Wheeler, Neil Grant, Annette Lenton, Graham Lingley, Anna Marriage, Joanna Westmoreland and Brian Pashley*

Neil Grant in a blue striped shirt, holding a video camera — *At Venki Ramakrishnan’s Nobel Prize party in 2009*

Neil Grant holding a purple umbrella and a camera, 2003 — *At the DNA 50 event in 2003, marking the anniversary of the discovery of DNA’s structure*

Neil and his camera have been on hand at countless events throughout the years, ready to capture key moments in the LMB’s history. This includes several Nobel Prize parties, the official opening of the new LMB building by HRH Queen Elizabeth II and numerous symposia.

Throughout his time at the LMB, Neil has responded and adapted to the vast technological changes in the field, from film photography with negatives, to digital formats, video filming and motion picture production, which came with greater advancements in post-production applications and techniques. His extensive experience means he is well suited to assist with a wide-variety of photography and filming requests throughout the lab, capturing anything from very large pieces of equipment to small tissues and embryos.

Neil is often juggling several projects and requests simultaneously. He is pivotal to the production of videos in the lab and is deeply involved in the entire process from concept consultation through to set-up and filming and finally post-production editing. Recent projects include LMB Through the Years, an interview series with former and current lab members to mark 60 years of the LMB, and video tours of LMB facilities showcasing the often unseen work crucial to ongoing research.

Neil Grant holding a large 5x4 inch film camera aimed at a black, white and red model of haemoglobin — *Focusing a 5×4 inch film camera on a haemoglobin model c.1998*

Away from lab photography and filming, Neil is a long-standing contributor to the LMB’s Arts and Crafts show, held every summer in the LMB atrium. This allows everyone to enjoy some of the creative photos Neil has taken away from work, often showcasing his travels.

Further references

160 not out: Celebrating those with 4 decades of LMB service