Tower and Town, March 2026 (view the full edition)My Footprints To MarlboroughPete Davies, owner of Marlborough Photo Services on the High Street, talks to Matt Gow. 1. Where were you born, and where did you grow up? I was born into an RAF family at the air base in Akrotiri, Cyprus. As an 'RAF kid,' I moved frequently to wherever there was a hospital base, roughly every three years due to my father's postings. 2. What was your early life like? Looking back, I realise how wonderfully naive I was and how simple life felt. My father was hardworking and inspired me to start running, while my mother paused her nursing career to raise us before eventually returning to work. Our second tour in Cyprus was a highlight for family and friends. The armed forces provided a fantastic, tight-knit community for us growing up. 3. What kind of work have you had? I never explicitly planned a career in photography, but I love what I do. I consider myself part of the last generation of photographers who had to put a blanket over their heads and cameras to frame and focus a subject. Outside of work, my passion is running; it is a wonderful pastime that allows me to explore the Wiltshire Downs. 4. Had you ever heard of Marlborough before moving here? No, not really. As a young teenager, I would occasionally cycle over from RAF Wroughton, mainly to get a glass of lemonade from the Polly Tea Rooms because a girl I 'admired' worked there. 5. What brought you to Marlborough? I returned from boarding school to discover my parents had moved to Marlborough following my father's retirement from the Air Force. They purchased and ran Marlborough Lodge, a residential care home in the early 1990s. My first impression of the town as a teenager was probably the huge number of drinking establishments you could visit in a single night... 6. Why did you decide to make it home? I went off to boarding school in Nottinghamshire with a view to starting my own Forces career, but injury brought me back. Initially I could not afford to live in Marlborough so purchased a house in Calne, then Pewsey and eventually back to Marlborough. 7. How has living here shaped your life? I married a Yorkshire girl, and we spent a long time debating where to settle. We eventually agreed on Marlborough and have raised our family here. I love it, though my wife is still keen to return to Yorkshire at some point! One of my most enduring roles has been working as a photographer for Marlborough College (since 1996), and I am very proud that my son attends the school. 8. What would you say to someone considering moving here? It is a wonderful place that serves your needs whether you are young or old. It has great schools, a High Street to be proud of, and beautiful countryside right on the doorstep. Matt Gow |