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‘Periodically, the panda used to lose its temper and go berserk’ ‘Periodically, the panda used to lose its temper and go berserk’
(3 months later)
Ming was born in 1937, the same year as me. She arrived in the UK from China on Christmas Eve in 1938, as a cub, and was an instant hit, generating a huge amount of interest. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were photographed playing with her, tickling her tummy.Ming was born in 1937, the same year as me. She arrived in the UK from China on Christmas Eve in 1938, as a cub, and was an instant hit, generating a huge amount of interest. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were photographed playing with her, tickling her tummy.
My father, Bert Hardy, was a press photographer, which meant he had to dream up ideas and picture stories, and sell them to the newspapers. Whenever he had no other story to do, he would go to the zoo in Regent’s Park; he made friends with particular zookeepers who, in return for half a crown, would tell him if anything pictureworthy was happening.My father, Bert Hardy, was a press photographer, which meant he had to dream up ideas and picture stories, and sell them to the newspapers. Whenever he had no other story to do, he would go to the zoo in Regent’s Park; he made friends with particular zookeepers who, in return for half a crown, would tell him if anything pictureworthy was happening.
He knew photographs of children and animals always sold well, so for a while he shot a regular feature for the Sunday Graphic called Anne And The Chimp, starring the young daughter of a journalist on that paper. When that series finished, he started a new one called Peter And The Panda: it was me with Ming in various poses: with a football, in the bath, me riding on her back. My mother made costumes for me to pose in. Sadly, I have no memory of these pictures being taken.He knew photographs of children and animals always sold well, so for a while he shot a regular feature for the Sunday Graphic called Anne And The Chimp, starring the young daughter of a journalist on that paper. When that series finished, he started a new one called Peter And The Panda: it was me with Ming in various poses: with a football, in the bath, me riding on her back. My mother made costumes for me to pose in. Sadly, I have no memory of these pictures being taken.
There was no health and safety back then. The keepers always stayed close, often attaching a lead to Ming’s collar in case anything went wrong, but I don’t think she’s wearing one in this picture. She seemed to be quite happy with me, but I was smaller than her. In his autobiography, Bert Hardy: My Life, my father wrote, “Periodically, the panda used to lose its temper and go berserk... I don’t think many people really appreciated how dangerous pandas can be... apart, that is, from insurance companies. When Davis [his colleague at the General Photographic agency] tried to insure Michael’s safety, none of them would have anything to do with it.”There was no health and safety back then. The keepers always stayed close, often attaching a lead to Ming’s collar in case anything went wrong, but I don’t think she’s wearing one in this picture. She seemed to be quite happy with me, but I was smaller than her. In his autobiography, Bert Hardy: My Life, my father wrote, “Periodically, the panda used to lose its temper and go berserk... I don’t think many people really appreciated how dangerous pandas can be... apart, that is, from insurance companies. When Davis [his colleague at the General Photographic agency] tried to insure Michael’s safety, none of them would have anything to do with it.”
I was hugely proud of him. At school, most children’s fathers were plumbers or bus drivers or insurance clerks, but mine was a photographer. He joined the Picture Post in 1941; one of his first features was of firemen during the Blitz. He photographed the D-day landings in 1944. He was hardworking, and got on well with ordinary people. After the war, he travelled a lot, in the UK and abroad, for work. He always came back with presents for me and my brother; I remember being particularly impressed with a pair of rollerskates.I was hugely proud of him. At school, most children’s fathers were plumbers or bus drivers or insurance clerks, but mine was a photographer. He joined the Picture Post in 1941; one of his first features was of firemen during the Blitz. He photographed the D-day landings in 1944. He was hardworking, and got on well with ordinary people. After the war, he travelled a lot, in the UK and abroad, for work. He always came back with presents for me and my brother; I remember being particularly impressed with a pair of rollerskates.
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This photograph went around the world. Even recently, a friend sent me a card with it on, pointing out the back, which read “Anonymous” where the photographer’s name should have been. “We know better,” he wrote.This photograph went around the world. Even recently, a friend sent me a card with it on, pointing out the back, which read “Anonymous” where the photographer’s name should have been. “We know better,” he wrote.
Ming was evacuated to Whipsnade Zoo during the war, and died in 1944 after months of decline. The country mourned her, with the Times even running an obituary. A statue of her was unveiled last year at London Zoo. She lifted the spirits of a country at war.Ming was evacuated to Whipsnade Zoo during the war, and died in 1944 after months of decline. The country mourned her, with the Times even running an obituary. A statue of her was unveiled last year at London Zoo. She lifted the spirits of a country at war.
• Bert Hardy: Personal Collection runs until 3 July at The Photographers’ Gallery, London W1, tpg.org.uk.• Bert Hardy: Personal Collection runs until 3 July at The Photographers’ Gallery, London W1, tpg.org.uk.
Are you in a notable photograph? Email thatsme@theguardian.comAre you in a notable photograph? Email thatsme@theguardian.com