Andrew Chittock: In Memoriam

As the sun set around the world on 2025 and the year passed into history my friend and fellow photographer Andrew Chittock passed away too.

Andrew had become well known around town, almost always with a camera around his neck, or sometimes piloting his drone, photographing events or maybe just the everyday activity on the street and of course having his morning coffee in one or another of the hostelries near the harbour. He was a gentleman, unassuming and generous, not just to family and friends. If you didn’t know him personally but follow Aberaeron Memories on Facebook you will have seen his fantastic photographs which he happily shared. Although Andy was not a member of Cymdeithas he was a good friend and generously shared his work with us too.

Andrew’s quiet and gentle nature belied the fact that he was a career soldier from a military family. Both his parents had been high ranking officers in the Army Catering corps which his brother Anthony also joined. Andrew broke ranks and joined the Welsh Guards to which Anthony after a while transferred. Andrew achieved the rank of Sgt Major and Anthony that of Colour Sergeant.

Before retirement form the army, Andrew retrained as a photographer in preparation for civilian life. On leaving the military he joined a photo agency specialising in war/military photography generally photographing military life and of course the conflict areas where the British Army served. It was in one of these conflict zones that Dil Banejree a young photographer not long out of college met him becoming his firm friend. He told me that Andy knowing how things worked instinctively knew what was likely to happen next and where to be, of course in relative safety, to capture the best pictures. He did not keep this information to himself he was always willing to share especially with those new to the game. He said, “One of the most important things he taught me though was, “where to go and who to see to get fed”.

Andrew eventually settled for the quieter life of home turf and used his great skill and imagination as a photographer to photograph weddings and local events along with portraits and fashion shoots for his Instagram site. He was also a qualified scuba diver, a keen gardener and following in the family tradition a superb cook, making great use of the produce from his kitchen garden at Ivy Dene in Llwyncelyn.

Andrew died on the 31st of December 2025 aged just 69. His funeral was in St David’s Church Llanarth on the 16th Jan 26. His comrades from the Welsh Guards Association bore his coffin with others forming the colour party and a bugler from the 2nd Battalion of the Welsh Guards played the last post. Andy then had a tour of the harbour area, his favourite part of his beloved Aberaeron, prior to his cremation.

Phill Davies.