Your year in pictures

Edinburgh is a wonderful, magical place during the festival but the highlight for me was seeing these two maniacs from Oz daily stretching their bodies to the max. I managed to catch them on a day when it wasn't raining (quite rare this year). Let's hope they're back again to astound us next year. A truly spectacular, memorable show from two of the fittest people I've ever clapped eyes on.
Jim Downie, Edinburgh Photograph: Jim Downie

After a lifetime spent teaching in inner-city comprehensives here in England, I recently had the opportunity to spend some time teaching in the village of Besease in the Central Region of Ghana, West Africa. This is the sight that greeted me every morning as the children waited to carry my bags and walk with me to the school. Children desperate for education. As they say, a life-changing experience.
Tom Ashworth, West Yorkshire Photograph: Tom Ashworth

Tens of thousands of young people from almost every country in the world converged on Chelmsford this summer for the centenary Jamboree of Scouting. This picture, showing a group from Hong Kong, sums up the enthusiasm that everyone showed when joining in the celebrations.
John Hunt, Kent Photograph: John Hunt

Hacienda del Sol in Borrego Springs, California. Very David Lynch, some said. The silence in the backyard was absolute, the faint rustle of dried scrubs by small rodents, a rabbit, a snake; the soft hum of the freezer hiding behind the bush. The longer I stood and listened, the faster I wanted to get away.
Marcus Bastel, London Photograph: Marcus Bastel

This photo was taken earlier this year in Rio de Janiero, while watching the sun set on another perfect day in the Cidade Maravilhosa (the ‘Marvellous City’). I was there with my good friend Big G, working with street kids for the charity Task Brasil.
Katy Block, Penrith Photograph: Katy Block

Gospel Oak lido and fields at night.
Russell Kleyn, London Photograph: Russell Kleyn

Earlier this day in August, Gene's ashes had been dispersed at sea off the very west of Wales, near Little Haven. Jennifer and Charlotte discuss the fun and laughter they had shared with Gene, their grandmother's cousin, much missed by everyone.
Ann Bates, Colchester Photograph: Ann Bates

The summer of 2007 may have been a washout, weather-wise, but we still tried to do all the usual things, such as going to the moors or the beach - just with an added sprinkling of rain. This picture shows my six-year-old daughter determinedly enjoying an ice-cream seconds after a thunderstorm at Burrator Reservoir on Dartmoor - the remnants of which can still be seen in the sky above her.
Jemima Soper, Plymouth Photograph: Jemima Soper

When she was eight, our daughter was told by her PE teacher at school that she was the worst swimmer she had ever seen. This summer, aged 16, Alexandra swam the breaststroke leg in the 4x100m medley relay for Great Britain at the European Junior Championships in Antwerp. They won gold and smashed the European Junior record. If you get a chance, take it.
Jane Diamond, Bath Photograph: Jane Diamond

Beth, my daughter, getting some quiet time away on holiday in Sardinia, August 2007
Michael Ayerst Photograph: Michael Ayerst

This photo was taken at Crosby beach, site of the 'Another Place' sculptures by Anthony Gormley, in late June. On the beach there was still bright sunshine, and families were enjoying themselves. However, ominous thunderclouds were building up inland. The two women flying this tiny kite seemed oblivious to the oncoming storm. Fortunately by the time it struck, the kite and the two kite-flyers were safely away.
Martin Breach, Merseyside Photograph: Martin Breach

In February we went to Krakow, Poland, for Valentine’s Day. We were promised snow but it never came, then our flight home was cancelled and we ended up paying a fortune for new flights, taxis and a hotel - going to bed very miserable - but we woke the next day to see snow falling around the Wawel hill. For us, it was the most romantic moment of 2007.
Martin Doyle and Eve Chapman, St Albans Photograph: Martin Doyle and Eve Chapman

After completing our degrees, a friend and I travelled from Finland to Hong Kong by train over two months via the Trans-Siberian railway. The mission was to couchsurf in as many places as possible. However, on reaching Shanghai, we abandoned this and ended up here, at the Grand Hyatt hotel. It’s currently the tallest hotel in the world, and this is a picture from our floor (the 78th) down to the lobby
Danny Carr Photograph: Danny Carr

This time last year my world was turned upside down when my beloved brother died. I spent Christmas day on a plane to New Zealand, with his body in the cargo hold. But I also got to spend a joyous summer laughing and playing with my niece, four-and-a-half-year-old Millie, whom I hadn't seen since she was born.
Lisa Wilde, London Photograph: Lisa Wilde

My little brother got married and threw a zany tea party with his new bride Rachel. It was the craziest wedding I've ever witnessed.
Abigail Lewis, Gwent Photograph: Abigail Lewis

I was so excited to get Glastonbury tickets, but in the weeks leading up to the festival the rumours of bad weather persisted. As the fields of Worthy Farm did their best to recreate the Somme it quickly dawned that this was the worst Glastonbury festival in living memory. The weather was awful, the line up was poor and the highlights few and far between. This was a festival to be endured rather than enjoyed.
Mark Nelson, Chester Photograph: Mark Nelson

This was taken from the bowsprit of the clipper Stad Amsterdam in January, somewhere between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean. We were sailing in steady winds under full sail - truly the way to travel.
Joanne Harris, Wellington, New Zealand Photograph: Joanne Harris

This photograph was taken in Trafalgar Square on February 24 at the end of the CND march from Hyde Park. I like it because it shows young people becoming aware of the dangers facing the world and wanting to protest about them.
Ted Clapton, Exeter Photograph: Ted Clapton