From Gwynfor Evans to Anthony Hopkins, members of the Royal Family and the occasional soap star - there aren't many people who've been in North Wales who haven't been photographed by Arwyn Roberts.

The photographer, who has worked in the industry for nearly half a century, retired from the Daily Post and its sister website North Wales Live this month.

We spoke to the man fondly known as Arwyn Herald about his time as a photographer and his thoughts on retiring after a remarkable career.

His love for photography started at an early age but, in 1975, the 16-year-old from rural Gwynedd saw an advert in the paper that would change his life forever.

"Since I was a child, I always had an interest in photography," he said.

"I found an ad in The Herald with the words 'boy wanted' and decided to try for it.

Arwyn working at the Herald in Caernarfon as a compositor at the age of 22

"All I can remember is turning up and the boss asking me if I was related to any Welsh nationalist. I answered no and then later on he hired me.

"I can still remember my first shift on the job was at 2pm on a Wednesday afternoon in Caernarfon."

Arwyn spent his early years in the industry as a compositor, arranging type for printing into a composing machine, but always knew he wanted to delve in to photography.

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He said: "Back then, we didn't have photographers at The Herald. People would just send in their own photos.

"In my free time, I started taking and developing my photographs as much as I could - in the evenings and over the weekends. So much so that compositing and photographing became two jobs at once.

Arwyn (on the left) with co-workers outside the Herald office in Caernarfon

"I asked my boss if I could work as a photographer, but he said they didn't need one and I thought that was that."

But, in 1984, a huge fire tore through the Herald’s three-storey office building in Caernarfon, and a shake-up in the business soon after saw the paper in the same stable as the North Wales Weekly News, which was then based in Llandudno Junction.

Arwyn said: "The owner of the paper over in Llandudno Junction asked me if I wanted to be a photographer and I said yes.

"And the rest, as they say, is history."

The fire at the Herald office in Caernarfon in 1984

Since then, he's documented the aftermath of suspected Meibion Glyndwr arson attacks, political rallies in Caernarfon, the 1999 National Assembly for Wales election, and countless other significant events in Wales' political, social and cultural history.

But, according to Arwyn, the most rewarding part of the job was documenting the personal lives of people in North Wales.

"Starting off in my career, I was really nervous because I thought it was going to be a real challenge," he said.

"It was to begin with, but what made it easier was getting to know these people. I will always consider myself a 'people's person'. I enjoy getting to know them and helping as much as I can.

Angharad Tomos with the then secretary of state Peter Walker at the Eisteddfod in Newport in August 1988

"I have been there at people's proudest moments, but I've also been there at their worst.

"Most people that I have connected with through my work have opened their doors, whether in their joy or their grief, and I will never forget that. At the same time, I can't thank people enough for it either.

"Towards the end of my career, I felt like I was entering people's homes and their lives as a person - as myself, not as the paper."

Arwyn is one of the longest serving photographers in Wales, and has spent every summer for years capturing life at the country's Eisteddfodau.

Parc Newydd in Rhosgadfan caught fire during the Meibion Glyndwr era in March 1986

In 2005, he became a member of the Orsedd and chose the only suitable Bardic name he could think of - Arwyn Herald.

"I was brought up in a house that was very religious and Welsh," he said.

"As a child, I would always compete at the Eisteddfod. There's something about it.

"It's a celebration of Welsh life, heritage and culture that is really important to me, and I wanted that to be a big part of my work. We have something so unique here in Wales that you wouldn't find anywhere else."

Despite retiring this year, the 61-year-old photographer has insisted that he will continue to photograph and help those who may need him in the future.

Arwyn Herald with lecturer Meriel Parry at Eisteddfod Maldwyn in 2014

He said: "Lockdown has proven that there's more to life and what's important - health and friendship.

"I'm retiring but I will never stop taking photographs - I'm not putting my feet up just yet!

"For anyone seeking a career in photography, my best and only advice would be: taking a photo is not the most important thing - that's the second most important thing.

"The most important thing is knowing that person in front of the camera, getting to know and understand them. The rest is easy."