AN AMATEUR photographer from Greenock has been creating calendars for a cause close to her heart for 10 years – and she’s sold a few of them in some unexpected situations.
June Nicol started volunteering with the MS Society about 15 years ago after a relative was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
When an injury temporarily stopped her playing sport she turned to photography to keep herself busy, and soon decided to turn her new hobby into a fundraising activity for the charity.
A decade on, June has sold more than 3,300 calendars, raising over £12,000 for the charity’s Stop MS Appeal. And she has no plans to stop any time soon.
June, who lives in Perth but describes herself as “Greenock born and bred”, explained how her love of photography started.
“I used to play a lot of golf," she said, "but then I injured my leg and wasn’t able to play for a few months.
"My dad gave me his camera and said ‘this will keep you out of mischief for a while’. It was a way of getting me out and about and walking small distances.
"And that was it, I never gave the camera back!”
Having witnessed someone else try – and fail – to take a photo a day for a year, June thought she’d give it a go herself.
The keen photographer saw it as “something to keep me active, something to challenge me, and a way to improve my photography skills”.
The photos were a snapshot of June’s life that year. She started on April 1 as she thought it was such a foolish thing to do!
June visited a local printers to discuss her options and by chance they were looking for a photographer to contribute images for a calendar. They accepted 13 of her photos that year and the next.
After two years, the print company told June they wouldn’t be continuing the arrangement because they weren’t producing calendars any more as there wasn’t a big enough market for them. But the future fundraiser felt differently.
She continued: “I thought, if they weren’t going to do calendars any more I’d do it on my own. And I’d do them in aid of the MS Society.
"I visited Service Graphics, a long established printers in the west end of Edinburgh, and Colin and the other guys in there were great. We’ve now been working on calendars together for 10 years. They treat me like royalty whenever I go in there; I can’t sing their praises enough.
“All the pictures in the 2025 calendar are of Scotland and this has generally been the case over the years.
"The fisherman’s name is John and I know where he works. And I actually phoned him and asked permission to use the picture of him!
“I also try to spread the geography so it’s not always confined to one particular area of Scotland. So as well as the one down in the Mull of Galloway, there’s one taken in Orkney, and then at various points in between.
"I try to go away every year in May, usually for a week, to enhance my calendar portfolio. At the moment I’m making my way around the Scottish islands.
"Since Covid I’ve been – in no particular order – on Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Orkney, Bute, Mull, Iona, Lewis and Harris.
“I think my two favourite things to photograph are Scottish beaches and Highland cows. I absolutely adore beaches and when you see the front of the 2025 calendar I think you’ll see why.
“When it comes to selecting pictures for the calendar it’s a nightmare! I used to put pictures up in my bathroom and those were the ones I was thinking about using in the calendar. Sometimes seeing them on the wall gives you a better perspective on things.
"I also have family and friends I go to for opinions.
“Believe it or not I’ve got a little customer base, which I’m very, very proud of and very thankful to. Of course family, friends and colleagues have bought calendars over the years but I’ve got a lot of funny wee stories about other people I’ve sold them to as well.
“I got talking to a Polish guy on a train, and it turned out his mum had MS, so we shared email addresses, he bought some calendars, and we’ve become ‘pen pals’.
"A ranger at one of the historical sites in Orkney was remarking on my patience while I was waiting for people to clear the scene before taking a photo. We got talking, swapped email addresses, and they’ve been in touch about buying a calendar.
"I was on holiday in South Africa last year and I sold quite a few calendars while I was away! The people I was on the trip with have got a little WhatsApp group, so I sent a wee note to the group this year and I’ve had repeat business.
“I know people send my calendars all over the world, to places like Australia, Alaska, Bahamas, Germany, France, Canada and Italy.
"I’ve heard there are people who do paintings of the photos in my calendars, and this year someone’s asked if they can buy one of the images, which is a new one on me and raises more money for the charity. I’ve got a little following, if you like.”
Although 2025 marks 10 years of June creating calendars, her 10th calendar was this year’s one. She celebrated the milestone by inviting groups of supporters to vote for their favourite images from previous years’ calendars to feature in the 2024 edition.
“It was a way of showing my appreciation for the support,” she said.
In addition to making and selling the calendars, June often volunteers as a photographer at MS Society Scotland community events and MS Society fundraising events in Scotland.
Over the years she’s captured images of marathon runners, abseiling fundraisers, members of the MS community taking part in taster sessions with local organisations, and much more.
She concluded: “To all the people who’ve bought calendars over the years: thank you. I couldn’t do it without you.
"I say this every year to them. This is not a one man band, we’re all a team.
"I’ve had great support from family and friends in choosing my pictures and supporting and promoting the actual calendar once it’s ready.
"There are loads of folk that have helped me and I can’t ever repay it; all I can do is say thank you. I’m really, really lucky to have so many nice people who will help and support me.”
Keith Park, interim director of MS Society Scotland, said: “We’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to June for everything she’s done, and continues to do, for the MS community.
"Not only has she produced calendars full of high quality images for an impressive 10 years, raising more than £12,000 in the process, but she’s also volunteered as a photographer at many of our community and fundraising events.
“MS is a condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This impacts how people move, think and feel.
"Symptoms are different for everyone and people of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds can get MS.
"It’s thanks to brilliant people like June that we’re able to continue supporting the MS community today, and working towards a better future for everyone affected by the condition.”
A5 desk calendars, and A4 hanging calendars in portrait orientation, are priced at £5 each. A4 booklet-style calendars, which open to A3, cost £7.50 each.
To buy calendars, contact June by emailing jnicpics@aol.com
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