Well-known rally photographer Andrew Manston, known throughout the sport as Andy, created superb rally photographs, but they only told a small part of his story.
While competitors initially noticed the M&H Photography man behind his Foto board and his camera, Andy quickly became an integral part of their events and wider lives. It’s a mark of the love and affection in which Andy is held that tributes reflect the man in front of the camera, more than the man behind it.
Andy was seen at many events, with cheerful greetings and a hug or handshake passing both ways. It often felt as though he was at every event, no matter whether it was a night rally in East Anglia or a daytime event in the South West the very next morning. He was the Official Photographer to many different events, which demanded quality and reliability.
Recognising the importance of the people at an event, Andy was especially diligent in covering all crews. An image of a first-time crew running at the back of the field could mean more to them than a stack of photos would to front-runners.
Andy had a gift for seeing not only the cars but the people who made rallying what it is. That would include images of crews earnestly plotting routes on their maps by torchlight in their cars, moments of laughter while relaxing between special stages, or capturing gatherings of marshals supporting rallies.
In the 1980s, with 35mm cameras and before email was commonplace, Andy would send proof images by post. Competitors recall they were often supplemented with encouraging handwritten comments on the order form, with replies often following when the forms were returned.
Later on, Andy’s M&H Photography Forum became the go-to place for the road rally community in the 2000s, reflecting his place at the heart of it. In the digital age, with thousands of images possible from a single event, he’d return home dusty or muddy, and after greeting his family, Andy would head straight to his computer to download images and get the proofs out to competitors as soon as possible.
The Foto board Andy took to events would alert competitors to his presence and resulted in smiles, waves, and sideways action for the camera, with an extra coating of dust or mud often heading his way in return.
Wedding photography might seem a world away from standing outdoors in all weathers, day or night. But where would rally competitors, now firm friends, turn when they needed great images of such an important day? To Andy, of course.
Many household walls are decked with images of rallying moments and wedding days, both captured by the same man. Many rally friends were invited to Andy and Sarah’s wedding, and Sarah has many happy memories of sharing time with the community at barbecues, weddings and birthday celebrations.
Sarah also has fond memories of their daughters, Abi and Grace, enjoying ‘Daddy Days’ while she was working, with their collective enjoyment sometimes evident in the rather messy house she returned home to. Weekend family trips often centred around gymnastics competitions as the girls embraced the sport, giving Andy another reason to be there, supporting and encouraging them, always with a camera in his hand.
Andy wasn’t simply around on rally days. He became part of people’s lives. Friends recall that, when life became difficult, or they just wanted a chat, Andy was often a person they turned to. Before long, the conversation would usually return to grins and laughter, thanks to his dry sense of humour and great ‘one-liners’.
The photographs Andy leaves behind are an enduring record of our sport, but they are only part of his legacy. Most striking is the affection in which he is held by competitors, organisers, marshals and friends across the sport.
Andy wasn’t simply the photographer at an event – he was part of the rally family.
With thanks to Andrew Bisping for compiling this tribute