Bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears is well-known to audiences all around the world for his popular television programmes but few people realise he started his career as a photo-journalist. While in conversation with Stephen Humphries, our Creative Director, on a visit to the Westley Richards factory, the two hit upon an idea for a collaboration.
Ray still carries photographic kit everywhere he goes and was in need of a camera bag that would be discreet, robust, long-lived and suited to his mobile lifestyle. He likes to keep all his expensive camera equipment with him on flights, then lighten his bag by selecting what he needs for each day on-location.
Enamoured with our Bishop Bag, Stephen mentioned to Ray that the company was soon to release a taller, wider and deeper version, the Bishop Hill Bag. Being in its final stages, we adjusted the final iteration to accept a commercially available (see below) padded interior-partition to protect his camera bodies and lenses.
Ray opted for leather, over the lighter canvas alternative, as he values the longevity of the material. Cameras are hard objects, which sit in the same place every time they are packed. “Leather will adapt to that and wear harder. Other materials will eventually fail”, he said.
Ray fully subscribes to our company ethos of in-house designed, handmade products, created in Birmingham. While other brands increasingly farm out production to Asia, Ray feels strongly about the importance of authenticity. “It wouldn’t be a Westley Richards if it was not made in your Midlands factory”. That is as true of our luggage as it is of our guns and rifles.
Ray’s ‘Bishop’ camera bag works because it doesn’t advertise the presence of expensive camera equipment, which might tempt thieves. He is more relaxed travelling with a generic-looking bag, especially one which will age gracefully and gain a patina that does not draw attention to itself.
This is what Ray considers a bag for life in a throw-away age. Quality, traditional crafts, natural materials, which are repairable, restorable, and improve with time, rather than deteriorate, are the hallmarks of all our leather goods.
On a recent trip to Ray’s home county in southern England to capture his woodland portrait, he cheerfully told Stephen that his, now broken in, Bishop Hill Bag is “…the best camera bag I have ever owned”. The ultimate compliment.
If you would like to turn your Bishop Hill Bag into a professional camera bag like Ray, then purchase a Billingham Packington padded insert directly from Billingham to safely secure your equipment.
Westley Richards has been outfitting its clients for with fine leather goods as long as it has been building custom rifles and bespoke guns for them. Whether you are on safari in the African bush, in Paris for the weekend, or in New York on business, our heirloom quality leather luggage strikes the perfect balance between functionality, durability and timeless elegance. Made in our leather factory in Birmingham side by side with the gunmaking, the company offers a range of luxury travel bags made from leather and canvas, including holdalls, briefcases, backpacks, messenger bags and weekend bags. The perfect partner to our high quality safari wear and country clothing.
