Sam Hill reunites with Preston punks he photographed in 1980

Photographer Sam Hill has reunited with the alternative young people he photographed on the streets of Preston in 1980. At the time he was in his final year at art college and set out to capture the mods, punks and others who stood out. He did not ask for their names, but he never forgot their faces. He described them as a special generation of free-spirited young people. He took the photographs, thanked them and moved on.

His project took place when public goodwill towards young people was in short supply, and punk rock was often treated as a battle cry in British society. Sam wanted to show the world what he saw in the young people around him and to counter negative images by making them look good.

More than four decades later, he used the photographs to begin an extraordinary search. Online appeals, emails and phone calls led to reunions, stories and memories. He said every meeting left him enriched and uplifted and made him feel better about human beings. The first reunions involved Bill and Ray, and more people came forward as word spread.

Those he found recalled a close-knit community of punks and new wave fans that felt like family. Some remembered being unsure about the man who approached them with a camera. One said punk arrived when he was doing well at school and he channelled his energy into it. Another remembered thinking 'great, photograph me'. Sam said he wanted to present them positively at a time when young people and punks faced many negative images.

His search has now brought the photographs back to Preston for display at the Harris Museum. Every photograph has a name and a story attached. Some stories are about love, including one subject who said he had always wanted a relationship and found it with his wife. The project has also led to a final reunion with the art school tutor who encouraged Sam and gave him his own exhibition. The tutor went on to become a world-famous photographer. Sam did not go on to become a photographer himself.

The people in the photographs grew up to be artists, musicians, global DJs, writers, teachers and lecturers. Sam said the most interesting thing was not their jobs or status but their attitude and energy. One of them, Weasel, said he is still a punk in his heart and blood. Sam said the experience had left him feeling as if he had made about 40 new friends.