A youth theatre group's finest moments have been documented in a photo book celebrating its 35th anniversary. Jim Tampin, the man behind the lens, shares his highlights with Joanna Davis.

RAW talent leaps from the pages in photographer Jim Tampin's new book on a Weymouth youth theatre group.

Jim, 77, a former news photographer from Weymouth, put together photo book WOW - Celebrating 35 Years in honour of the group's 35th anniversary.

The book came about after a WOW committee meeting and Jim, as the group's photographer since the early days, chose a selection of his favourite shots for the colourful coffee table book.

The talented young troupe has come a long way since those early days in the 1980s and now regularly puts on large scale productions of West End and Broadway shows at Weymouth Pavilion.

Jim, a grandfather of five, said: "I got involved with WOW because I'm a fan of musicals and of the theatre. I cannot sing but I was involved with a couple of productions and always had a love of the theatre. I started off doing pictures for WOW's programmes and it just took off from there."

Jim, who has worked for the Western Gazette and Dorset Evening Echo, cites his favourite WOW production as Oliver and more recently Me and My Girl.

The key to taking good pictures of a fast-moving musical is to familiarise himself with each production, Jim said.

"I have to watch the rehearsals and I try to remember certain shots coming up of certain scenes so I'm ready to take the pictures. It's best to watch them when we're getting towards production time. The technical rehearsals give me a chance to look for things to take pictures of.

"I then usually select the best 100 pictures and give them to the group on a CD."

Because of licensing restrictions the group is not allowed to film all its productions, so this is when Jim's images become significant enduring memories of a show.

Jim said: "I have had some favourable feedback for my photos, the kids always seem quite happy with them."

WOW was formed in 1982 when it was realised there was a need for a local group of budding young stage stars after a Weymouth Operatic Society production of Oliver.

Two members, Pauline Wootten and Janet Stockley, were asked to form a junior society and Janet Stockley is still with the group as a chorus master and president.

WOW's first show was a variety production with a selection of songs from the shows and was performed in what was then known as Budmouth School's drama hall. In 2003 WOW purchased its own rehearsal premises in Park Street, Weymouth.

Many former members have gone on to appear in West End productions and regularly return to Weymouth to see the group's latest production. One former member even went on to work in the costume department of the Star Wars movie franchise.

WOW's next production in November will be the much-loved musical Cats.

Born in London and growing up in Wiltshire, Jim developed a love of photography as a 12-year-old when he was given a Kodak box brownie 127 camera.

"I went on to get a qualification in photography," he recalls.

"As a 15-year-old I phoned up my local newspaper the Wiltshire Gazette and asked to speak to the editor and if there was a vacancy for an apprentice and it all started from there."

A job at the Western Gazette brought Jim to Dorset - but he'd already visited the county as a youngster in the Second World War.

He said: "We were living with my grandparents in London as my father was away in the army. They had two nurses who were lodging with them and doing their training. They went down to Bridport as part of their training as district midwives and invited my mother and myself to go down there to stay because it was safer than London and that was when I got to know Dorset."

Although he has a deep love of Dorset, wanderlust has taken Jim all over the world taking photos in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), the Middle East, Europe and Kenya.

"These days I like taking photos of wildlife and I've been back to Kenya so often. Once Africa gets in your heart it stays with you," Jim said.

Although he retired in 2000, Jim is busier than ever with his grandchildren - one of whom has developed an interest in photography - and volunteering as a welcome host at Hardy's Cottage in Higher Bockhampton.

Jim can't see himself retiring from his duties as the WOW's resident photographer any time soon.

"I've got to keep the grey cells going," he said.

"They're such a great bunch of youngsters. It's very sad when they reach 18 and have to leave and you think 'who's going to take the best parts now?' but then they always come up through the ranks from being 11 or 12 when they joined WOW and they work their way up and start to get the big parts rather than just being in the chorus. I've seen quite a few of them come through and we're all very proud of them."

WOW Celebrating 35 Years is available to buy on the website blurb.co.uk by searching for musical, theatre, wow. Jim can be contacted by emailing tampinwild@mac.com