Roofer Finds Hidden Photo of Son on Museum Roof After 20 Years
Alan Needham, a roofer from Blythe aged 60, has uncovered a photograph of his son Ross, now 37, which he concealed on the roof of Newcastle's Grade II-listed Discovery Museum more than two decades ago. The image shows Ross at 13 months old and was found during a recent roofing job alongside his son.
Throughout his 42-year career, Needham has reportedly left around 10 secret "time capsule" photographs of family members hidden beneath slates at various locations across the North East, intending them to be discovered by future generations.
"When I found it, I started to 'fill up', and I showed Ross. The only thing you've got in this life are your family – I constantly do everything for my family."
Needham has worked on several prominent roofs, including Newcastle City Hall and Gateshead Town Hall. However, this recent project marked the first occasion he has returned to work on the same roof twice.
"In 2002, I came to the Discovery Museum to take a section of the roof off at the front, and I decided – again - to leave a little treasure, of my son, Ross.
"I never thought I would come back to this job 24 years later, doing the same area of roof and finding what I had left - I am glad I eventually remembered where it was."
The photograph of Ross remained affixed to the underside of the slate.
Needham described the discovery as "just something nice" for someone to find many decades later and to wonder if he is still alive.
The photo originated from a baby competition at a department store and had been kept in Needham's wallet.
During the recent roofing work, Needham removed a slate and found the photo of Ross, expressing surprise that he was the one to locate it.
"I couldn't believe it. I was chuffed to bits but I would put it back with the hope that it was not discovered for another 100 years."
He explained that he chose this particular picture of Ross instead of one of his other son because it was the only photo in his wallet at that time.
Needham also plans to leave more photographs of his family in the future, including images of his grandchildren, his other son Elliot, aged 30, and possibly his wife, who he said found his secret collection "fantastic."
"I would say to the person finding it, I hope the world is a better place than it is now."
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