The first meeting of ADAPS was held on 21st April 1938 in Church House, Atherton, and featured a talk by Charlie West, a Leigh photographer, on colour photography illustrated with colour lantern slides. On 5th May a talk by Tom Lee Syms on elementary photography was given, also at Church House. The club then found a home in the old tack room over the stables at the Wheatsheaf public house on Market Street in Atherton, and meetings commenced while the room was refurbished.
On Sunday 22nd May the first outdoor ramble was held to Borsdane Wood and the social side of the club was born. June 4th saw the club combining with Leigh Literary Society and Bolton Camera Club for a trip to White Coppice. On 1st August 1938 the club members met at T.L.Syms’ studio in Tyldesley and a club picture was taken, subsequently published in the Leigh Journal. In September ADAPS was at Liverpool docks on a trip organised by the Lancashire & Cheshire Photographic Union (L&CPU). In October 1938 Tom Lee Syms died and is buried with his family in Tyldesley Cemetary.
A full winter program followed culminating with the first Annual exhibition at Hesketh Fletcher School, Atherton. A small fee was charged to enter and the winners were F.E.Jones – T L Syms Memorial Trophy (Advanced prints), E.McGregor – Nichols Cup (Novice prints), John Burrows took the Portrait Certificate and other members the Colour and other sections of the competion. Presentations took place at Top Lane School, Atherton.
F.E. Jones was elected second President at the 1939 Annual General Meeting and the club became affiliated to the L&CPU. ADAPS continued to grow, while trying to improve the clubroom and facilities in the Wheatsheaf at the same time. The Second World War came along and things slowed up with members leaving to fight, the unavailability of materials and the general hardships of war. Some members could get hold of ex War Department materials and these were used to continue their hobby. By 1943 the club had 78 members. Comfort parcels were sent to ADAPS members on active service by the club. Sadly three members lost their lives and they are remembered on a plaque placed in the clubroom.
After the hostilities the club continued to meet at the Wheatsheaf and further improvements were made. Heating and lighting were upgraded, although relationships with the landlord seemed to be deteriorating. Access to the rooms was not considered very safe through the pub yard, there was minimal space to make a brew and toilet facilities left a lot to be desired. These problems continued for some years with the club looking for larger premises, but many happy hours were spent in the tack room.