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Photographic exhibition depicting the after-effects of road crashes opens in Leeds

27 March 2007

A photographic exhibition featuring crash scenes and portraits of people affected by the loss of loved ones is opening at The Exhibition Space in Leeds on April 4, 2007.

Entitled 'When Lives Collide', the travelling exhibition by award-winning photographer Paul Wenham-Clarke, is sponsored by Leeds-based Green Flag and features a collection of images showing the horror of car crashes and the effect they have on people's lives. This exhibition will be visiting seven cities across the UK, having opened in Birmingham in October 2006.

Thought-provoking and often chilling images attempt to cut through the statistics to take a personal and emotional look at this ever-present issue. According to Department for Transport statistics *, nearly three people are killed or seriously injured on West Yorkshire roads every day with nearly 11,000 people killed or injured in the region every year.

Anne Bowden, from Beeston in Leeds, lost her son, Anthony, in December 2004. Anthony, aged 17, was killed when his 18-year-old friend lost control of his speeding car down Tinshill Lane, whilst drunk, hit a lamp-post and then a wall and ended up in the Fox and Hounds car park. Anthony died but his friend survived and was sentenced to three years in prison. Anne also lost her brother Edward (aged 21) and a cousin in a crash about 15 years ago.

Anne will be attending the exhibition's private view on Tuesday 3 April at The Exhibition Space on Whitehall Waterfront, Leeds, where she will give her own account of the tragic loss of her son and why she is now an active road safety campaigner.

'When Lives Collide' runs from April 4 - 28, before travelling to Belfast's Conway Mill in May for the last stop on its UK tour. The exhibition debuted at London's Oxo Gallery in January 2006 and has since appeared at The Association of Photographer's Gallery in London, Birmingham's Custard Factory, Edinburgh's ESU Gallery, Swansea's Mission Gallery and Newcastle's Biscuit Factory.

The exhibition contains some shocking and controversial images of crash scenes, which have been created using actors and make-up. This has been done in an attempt to make the public realise how terrible crash scenes really are. However, the majority of the work features portraits of the bereaved and seriously injured alongside, in their own words, an account of the events and their emotions.

"The people featured in the exhibition have been terribly injured or in many cases bereaved. Either way their lives have been devastated," said Paul Wenham-Clarke, who spent six months meeting with his subjects and gaining their trust.

"The emotional consequences of these devastating collisions radiate out like waves on a pond. Mothers and fathers are left wondering why they have outlived a child and lovers are separated forever with no opportunity to even say goodbye," he added.

Exhibition sponsor, Green Flag, puts safety at the heart of its roadside rescue and recovery service and supports a number of national and community initiatives. To coincide with the opening of 'When Lives Collide' in Leeds, the breakdown service will be announcing its continued sponsorship of Road Safety Week, which takes place from 5-11 November 2007.

Spokesperson for Green Flag, Nigel Charlesworth, commented: "Green Flag is all too aware of the issues 'When Lives Collide' raises and we realise that there is a very real need to support Paul Wenham-Clarke's striking and challenging work which will hopefully make drivers think about their behaviour."

Paul Wenham-Clarke worked with RoadPeace, a charity for bereaved and injured road crash victims, who introduced him to their work, to the plight of road victims and to the victims themselves, who were willing to participate and who see this exhibition as an important acknowledgement of their loss and suffering and an honour to their loved ones.

'When Lives Collide' opens at The Exhibition Space, Whitehall Waterfront, Leeds, LS1 4EH on April 4 and runs until April 28 2007. Admission is free.

For more information visit www.greenflag.com and for high resolution images visit www.whenlivescollide.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

Source: * Road Casualties in Great Britain 2005: Annual Report, Department for Transport.

About Paul Wenham-Clarke

Paul Wenham-Clarke (43) is a commercial photographer based in Newbury. He has won many major awards for his commercial work including Overall Winner of the 2006 AoP (Association of Photographers) Open Competition and Professional Photographer Magazine's Professional Photographer of the Year 2006. Paul decided to undertake an MA at Nottingham Trent University so he could take on a major personal project, 'When Lives Collide'.

Paul worked on 'When Lives Collide' with RoadPeace, a charity that acts as a support group for people bereaved and seriously injured by road traffic incidents and campaigns for safer roads.

About Green Flag

Media contacts

Philippa Naylor, Green Flag, Tel: 0113 399 1387 or philippa.naylor@ukipartnerships.com
Emma Kirkaldy, Smart Association, Tel: 0870 403 6499 or email: emma@smartassoc.co.uk
Paul Wenham-Clarke, Tel: 01635 34966/07721 902 670 or email: paul@wenhamclarke.com

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