A new book brings together a fascinating collection of faces from the past, all residents of The Golden Valley.

The photographer, Richard Jenkins, whose photographs open a window on the past, was born in 1890 at Quarrelly Farm, in the parish of Newton in south west Herefordshire, within sight of the Black Mountains. The only son of a farmer, his destiny was determined from birth, and he had no choice but to become a farmer. His tragedy, though, was that he longed to do other things - he was fascinated by machines and wanted to go to college to study engineering.

As he grew up, as author Hilary Engel explains in her new book, Golden Valley Faces: The photographs of Richard Jenkins, photography became his way of escaping the prison of farming. With the camera he was to some extent in control: he was using his own particular skills, expressing his vision and clearly loved the process of creating images with this brilliant new contraption, capturing light out of darkness.

Jenkins photographed every stage in the lives of his Golden Valley neighbours: their weddings, their babies, their graves, many of which are now brought together for the first time, thanks particularly, says Hilary, to the support of Richard's daughter, Sylvia Jenkins-Bigglestone, and the collection of 500 images scanned by Jenny Houston of the Longtown Historical Society.

Perhaps you recognise a face from your own family's past? If you do please let us know by emailing philippa.may@herefordtimes.com

Golden Valley Faces is available at Waterstones, Hereford and Abergavenny; Rossiter Books, Leominster, Monmouth and Ross; Booths Books, Hay-on-Wye; Aardvark Books, Brampton Bryan; Locks Garage, Allensmore; Ewyas Harold Stores; Hopes of Longtown; Oakchurch Farm Shop, Staunton-on-Wye and at The Bridge Inn, Michaelchurch Escley.

All proceeds will go to the Laurie Engel Fund.