Boris Yeltsin visited the UK in 1990 and was the toast of the Conservative government – the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher referred to Yeltsin as a man we can do business with. Just over a month later Yeltsin became President of the Russian Republic. This picture was taken for the Times Downing Street Rota after an unusually long wait for the photocall to take place. Their love of a pre-shoot tipple was evident as Yeltsin steadied the Prime Minister before the obligatory grip and grin picture. Needless to say the Times distributed the grip and grin to the world’s press. This one remains a favorite of mine because it shows Thatcher in a vulnerable unguarded moment, a side of her the public never saw until the so called Iron Lady left Downing Street the following November.

John has been shooting professionally since the 1970’s covering major events that have taken place from the upheavals in the Middle East to the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. Earlier this year John moved to Auckland New Zealand and now works mostly on PR and Corporate work.

Photographer since 1979, EPUK member since 2006.

See more work by John Chapman