Couple still waiting for wedding album

11:08am Friday 4th May 2007

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A MOSLEY Common couple have celebrated their first wedding anniversary - and still have no album of their big day to look back on.

Lorna and John Thirkill came forward to tell their story following a TV investigation over claims that newly-weds lost money on their wedding photographs.

Hilary and Gary Segal, of The Segal Studio in Prestwich, were featured on BBC One's North West Tonight after complaints by several couples that the studio had failed to produce the albums they paid for and were instead left with just a box of negatives.

Dental practice nurse manager Lorna said she wanted to prevent future brides being treated in the same way.

She said she arranged for the Segals to cover her wedding at the Holiday Inn, Bolton, in April 06. She placed her order for the pictures, paid £800 in advance, but did not hear from the studio again until February, when she received a letter telling her they were no longer able to produce the album she wanted.

Lorna said: "I was sent a letter with no explanation, no apology, saying they could not produce the album. They offered me the copyright and the negatives, thinking that was some compensation, but it was nowhere near what I wanted. They did not want to deal with me in person, only in writing, and wanted me to sign a disclaimer to release the negatives and have nothing more to do with them."

The BBC first aired the story featuring Victoria and Lee Muir, and Ellen and Stuart Halpin of Leigh.

When viewers saw their stories, several more brides, including Lorna, came forward with similar tales, which led to a follow-up programme.

She said: "Myself and my family were very pleased with the whole arrangement and on the day the Segals were more than helpful.

"Before we left for our honeymoon I left a message on the Segals' answer machine stating how pleased I was with their services and I could not wait to see what they had produced. On return the Segals wrote to us informing us they had an abundance of pictures of our big day.

"We collected the proofs of which there was approximately 349 (many duplicates in different styles, black and white , sepia and art) and we were given six weeks to choose 100 to keep and 37 to go in an album.

"Within the six weeks I picked what I wanted and passed the proofs around family and friends so they could order any they wanted or any enlargements, I also ordered two enlargements. I then returned the proofs and placed my order.

"I returned to The Segals in September to collect my enlargement for which there was a charge of £30. Gary Segal told me he would be in touch as soon as my album is ready. This was the last I heard until I received a letter in February this year informing me "due to production difficulties" they could not give me a delivery date on my album. They offered no explanation or apology but I could have all 349 proofs, negatives and copywrite if I sign a disclaimer.

"As you can imagine I was most upset. This soon turned to anger so I decided to put the matter into the hands of a solicitor who wrote to the Segal's requesting they complete the order or refund monies paid. The Segals did not respond."

In response to the accusations on TV, the Segals said their albums were specially made for each client and therefore they were not able to specify an exact delivery date.

The fees were not just for an album and covered the cost of attending the wedding, the processing and printing of all the images, and time spent organising photographic coverage.

In a formal statement they said: "The BBC, and the couples involved have caused immense stress in addition to the innumerable amount of time wasted in having to write an innumerable amount of unnecessary correspondence to BBC personnel regarding the untruthful declarations made against us."