ANDY UGLOW – 1963-2025

Highly respected photographer, Rotarian and mentor to so many, Andy Uglow passed away peacefully at home in Torquay after an 18-month battle with cancer. A beloved and much-loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle and friend to so many.

He was the kindest, most gentle man with a big heart, always happy, smiling and making everyone chuckle at his notoriously bad jokes. He was truly a great man and friend to all. He was a mentor to all his photography students and an inspiration to all those he came into contact with. His kindness and consideration made an impression on everybody he met and he was certainly someone who people connected with instantly.

Andy was known by many as the cheeky photographer “with a big heart”. His company – Pyramid Torbay Photography – was well established in the Bay and his work was highly thought of.

He was a humble person, but was capable of achieving anything he set his mind to. He studied photography at South Devon College and achieved the highest A-level marks in the country. He was accredited by the Master Photographers Association and won many awards for his photography.

Torquay born and bred, Andy was very proud of his home town and his roots in Watcombe. He attended Watcombe Primary School and Audley Park School. In his youth, he played football with Watcombe United, Watcombe Wanderers and Riviera Rangers.

When Andy left school, he worked at Sunshield Blinds and then Torbay Blinds. In 1985, he teamed up with his elder brother, Alan, working as a landscape gardener. In 1990, he opened his pet shop in Chelston – Tom & Jerry’s. When Andy closed his business, he spent a year working in Spain before returning to the UK to work in newspaper sales and promotions at the Western Morning News in Plymouth.

Andy was an expert on aquarium fish and was invited to set up the aquarium at Styles Garden Centre where he worked until 2000. It was then he joined the Herald Express in Torquay as sales distribution manager and, finally, photographer. He went on to set up his own photography studios in Torquay in 2004 which he ran for over 20 years.

In 2003 that he met his future wife, Kathy, who was also working at the Herald Express and they were married in 2008 at Gracelands in Memphis. Elvis has always been Andy’s hero.

In 2009, Andy was invited to join the Rotary Club of Babbacombe and St Marychurch and this enabled him to continue his charity work including major community events such as Babbacombe Fayre, the Pedal Car Grand Prix and the Agatha Christie Fete. Many people will remember the hugely popular Proms Nights on Babbacombe Downs in 2012/13 which Andy organised. Some highlights of his Rotary years were the Monte Carlo or Bust challenge which raised funds for the Children’s Hospice South West and his skydive in 2014 in aid of the MS Society.

Andy became president of the Torbay Sunrise Rotary Club in 2023 and was awarded the highest accolade by becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also awarded a coveted sapphire PHF in his presidential year.

However, Andy will mostly be remembered for the Rotary Santa’s Grotto at Fleet Walk as the “magic elf” and, of course, the Move & Groove Festival which he founded in 2023 in conjunction with SPACE for those with learning disabilities and autism. In latter years, Andy expanded his photography career by teaching at SPACE and his students adored him. Under his leadership they held exhibitions, produced calendars and photo products. He also led them on many field trips to expand their skills. He was truly inspirational to so many people including his fellow professional photography peers.

Many people may also remember Andy’s weekly Sunday Love in the Afternoon radio show on Riviera FM where he subjected his guests to the hilarious Mr & Mrs quiz with some outrageous results.

Andy leaves behind a wife and four children as well as 11 grandchildren, a brother and two sisters.

He will always be remembered for his kindness, fun and humour and in the words of his hero, Elvis, will be “always on our minds”.