Once a Year, Some Traditional British Customs was first published in 1977 establishing Homer Sykes as one of the UK's leading young photographers, Over a period of almost seven years, he travelled the country photographing around 100 traditional British customs, with over 80 appearing in the book.

 

Though inspired by the 19th-century photographer Benjamin Stone, Homer Sykes approached the events with a distinctly modern sensibility, creating dynamic images which focus mainly on the tradition that is being re-enacted against a background of everyday life.

 

In recent years Homer Sykes's photographs have become recognised as one of the most important archives of British traditional customs as well as a fascinating insight into life in 1970s Britain.