I was honoured to be invited by the family to photograph the unveiling of a blue plaque for Mott the Hoople lead singer Ian Hunter on York Street, Oswestry — a special day for the town and for rock history.
Some commissions are more than just a job — they are a genuine privilege. Being asked by the family of Ian Hunter to attend and photograph the unveiling of his blue plaque on York Street, Oswestry, was one of those moments.
A Shropshire Legend Honoured
A blue plaque has been installed at the house where Mott the Hoople lead singer Ian Hunter was born in Oswestry, Shropshire. The plaque was unveiled on Saturday by the town's mayor, Councillor Jonathan Upton, and Hunter's eldest grandson, Jay Patterson — a fitting combination of civic pride and family legacy.
Hunter himself, who now lives in Connecticut in the US and was unable to attend in person, shared a video message with the crowd. In it, he thanked the organisers and reflected on what the honour meant to him.
"I'm still a Shropshire lad at heart," he told fans. "I'm eternally grateful for your love and your support — it's been 50 odd years, when you're 87, you do need a little support."
The Story Behind the Plaque
The installation was organised by Councillor Duncan Kerr after permission was granted by Oswestry Town Council. Formed in Herefordshire in the 1960s, Mott the Hoople are best remembered for their 1972 hit All The Young Dudes, written by David Bowie — one of the most iconic songs of the glam rock era.
The band split in 1974 but have reformed on several occasions for tours and live performances, maintaining a devoted following across generations.
The round plaque features a lyric from Hunter's 1976 track Irene Wilde: "gonna be somebody someday" — a line that carries particular weight when you consider the journey from a terraced street in Oswestry to the stages of the world.
A Family Moment
Jay Patterson — Hunter's eldest grandson and himself a musician — spoke movingly about what the day meant to the family.
"Growing up, we always knew who my granddad was, he was just pops to all of us. But then, obviously, when you have days like today, it really does just go to show how much of a legend he was and how much he's loved by his fans," he said.
"To have something commemorate not just his career, but his life and where he was born, it's a massive thing for us as a family."
Patterson also noted he was surprised by the number of people who turned out to witness the unveiling — a testament to how much Hunter and Mott the Hoople still mean to music fans across Shropshire and beyond.
The Photographs
You can view the full set of photographs from the day here:
View the Ian Hunter Blue Plaque Photographs →
It was a real honour to be trusted with capturing such a meaningful occasion for the Hunter family. Days like this are a reminder of why event photography matters — these are the moments that deserve to be preserved properly.
If you have an event, ceremony, or special occasion in Shropshire that you would like professionally photographed, I would love to hear from you.
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Written by
Jamie Whelan
Content creator and writer sharing insights and stories.
