PHOTOS have been discovered, which were taken by a talented schoolboy photographer who talked his way into the original Hill Climb events at the Chateau Impney in the 1960s, by convincing Autosport magazine that he was a professional.

Hugh Miller, who was a 16-year-old pupil at Bromsgrove County High School in 1963, wrote to the magazine, along with his friend Roy Cottrill, telling them about their love of motorsports and photography, and convinced the publication to commission the two as photographers at the Hill Climb.

Armed only with their press passes and basic single lens reflex cameras, the two went on to capture the high speed action at the event for two years running, even having a couple of images published.

The boys’ photography careers proved short-lived though, after one morning in 1964, the magazine’s then editor Mike Kettlewell, called Hugh’s house to discuss their next assignment, and his mother answered the phone, informing him that Hugh was out, at school.

The vast majority of the photographs never saw the light of day, and Hugh has kept them in his private collection where they were discovered by Hill Climb organisers, researching the original events.

Hugh said: “Chateau Impney was always great fun as there was an open paddock at both the top and the bottom of the course. Roy and I used to run to the top of the hill and ask the drivers to give us a lift back down.

“I particularly remember one trip perched in the small passenger seat of a Grand Prix Bugatti with one foot on the gearbox, as well as a ride in the one-off seven-litre Chapman Mercury racing car.”

Hugh, who is now a retired psychology lecturer, will be returning to the Chateau Impney on July 11 and 12 as a guest photographer for the return of the Hill Climb,

He added: “I’m very keen to see it all again on the new course, but I don’t think I’ll be asking for a lift down the hill this time.”

Rod Spollon, chairman of the Chateau Impney Hill Climb Club said: “We were thrilled to discover Hugh’s photos of the original sprint event in period as they provide such a fascinating insight into the history of motorsport at Chateau Impney. Despite only being 16 at the time, the quality of his images was tremendous and it’s little wonder that Autosport believed they were taken by a much older and experienced photographer.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Hugh back to experience the sights and sounds of the new Chateau Impney Hill Climb and hope that his images will be shared with a much wider audience and not hidden away for another fifty years.”