Obituary: Brian Harris, 1952 – 2025

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of photographer Brian Harris.

Brian was a founding member of The Press Photographers’ Association, which became The British Press Photographers’ Association, when its first meeting was held in a pub off Fleet Street in 1984. He was the youngest staff photographer at The Times when he was just 24 and went on to be the first staff photographer when The Independent launched in 1986. During his 55 year career he covered the famine in Ethiopia, the civil war in Rhodesia, the aftermath of the Falklands war and the fall of the Berlin Wall which was documented in his book “…and then the Prime Minister hit me”, published in 2016.

Brian was due to speak about his life’s work at ‘Assignments LIVE: An evening with Brian Harris’ on Wednesday 8th October. The event will go ahead in his memory and be presented by friends and colleagues, we look forward to raising a glass to him in the bar afterwards.

Brian passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home in Thaxted on Saturday 4th October at the age of 73 after a short battle with cancer. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Photograph courtesy of Steve Raymer