Prints among men
We printed these photos from the Lancaster Guardian's archive last month without knowing anything about them but once again, our readers have been able to solve some mysteries.
This picture received the best response of the batch.
Colin Wright of Bolton-le-Sands was the first to fire off an email.
He writes: "I received a phone call last Friday suggesting I have a look at the Lancaster Guardian as there was a picture of 'some rather serious looking chaps' and the caller was sure I was one of them. And I was!
We were not really as serious as we looked, I think we were anxious to start our meal and the photographer had not yet asked us to say 'cheese'.
However I can tell you that the occasion was the annual dinner of the Friends School Old Boys Association (the school later became the George Fox School and the ex-pupils association the 1690 Association which still flourishes today).
It would be in the early 1960s. On the front row, left to right, the headmaster James Dodds Drummond; the mayor of Lancaster; the president of the Association for that year; and then the guest speaker.
On the back row, left to right, Chris Preston, a well-known local businessman and long serving and highly respected city councillor (and I think mayor); Ronald Macdonald MC (treasurer); J Lindley Christie who owned an antique and upholstery business in Chapel Street; and myself, by far the youngest of the group who had been invited to become secretary. The venue was most likely the Castle Hotel in China Street."
Andrew Tennant of Burton in Kendal who was a pupil at the Friends School from 1940-9, rang in to confirm most of the names Colin had mentioned but also recognised Chief Supt Arthur Thompson on the far right of the front row and remembers the mayor's name was Coun Rogerson who used to represent Scotforth.
Mary Ridley of Lancaster also recognised the head and Chris Preston who she said owned the leather tanning business in Ashton Road. And Noel Livesey emailed in to confirm that the Friends School headmaster J Dodds Drummound, known to the pupils as 'Bulldog' was in this picture.
Mr Livesey is a former headteacher himself – of Moorside School, Lancaster. I remember him well, me being an ex pupil!
And the final email I received on this picture was from John Savage who also recognised the head and Chris Preston.
"I really enjoy these pictures and trying to identify people in them," John writes.
Glad to be of service, John!
* David Woods, who was born in Lancaster, emailed to say he has read the Guardian on and off for many years but this was the first time he could help out with information on the old photos we print...it comes to us all David!
He writes: "I'm fairly sure that this is the opening of the St. John Ambulance Station in the entrance to King George's field – Slyne Road, Lancaster.
I was born at No. 58 and if I'm correct, the house to the right in the picture was owned by Edmund and Josephine Robinson.
I attended St Luke's School with David and Andrew Robinson – the tree in the picture supported a rope swing and we spent most of our summer holidays swinging from a wall to the rear.
Moreover, if I am right – I was there on the day! Regarding the date; I was attending St. Luke's so it's circa 1961.
Around that time, David Robinson and I discovered the virtue of compassion; we used to help tramps on Slyne Road which at the time was the very busy A6 by taking food from home and feeding them.
I remember taking tramps to the ambulance station for assistance. I'm sure that wasn't the intended use but they were always helpful nevertheless."
Bob Boan of Morecambe confirmed that this picture does show the official opening of the Lancaster St John Ambulance base. The building is now used as Skerton Youth and Community Centre.
Although Bob was in the Lancaster Cadets in the early Sixties, he couldn't recognise anyone in the photo.
Mary Ridley from Lancaster was our only reader to come up with the name of one person in this picture and that was Mrs Betty Pickard. She is the first woman on the left nearest the door and was later
twice mayor of Lancaster and probably held a position in St John's. Mrs Pickard is now in her 90s and lives at Laurel Bank Nursing Home.
* Anne Thom of Lancaster remembers this photo as she was queen for the day!
It shows the Skerton Methodist Sunday School queen in 1961 and was taken outside the main door of the church which stood on the site then but has since been demolished.
Anne writes: "I am the Sunday School queen and the retiring queen was Sandra Marsden. I'm fairly certain the boy holding the cushion was called Ian and the other boy's name was Steven.
The front row of attendants left to right were: Catherine Makemson, Jean Smith and Elizabeth Greenland. The attendant behind Elizabeth was Lynn Simmister.
In those days, Skerton Methodist Church used to hold a procession of witness in and around the streets of Skerton."
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Weather for Lancaster
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
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