We have inherited 100s of photos in some albums belonging to Joe and Sarah (my husband's grandparents). Their family wrote on the back of dozens of the photos. I discovered many little comments that are unique to them and yet so like millions of other families. Not simply names and places but jokes, affectionate comments, nicknames - things that make photos that were taken many decades ago (and indeed in many cases over 100 years ago) still resonate with families today!
"Dad says she look as if she's on a week's notice!"
"Just had lunch"
This lady is a family member but I don't know who she is. She is in several photos and is possibly an aunt of Joe or Sarah, or maybe related to one of Sarah's brothers in law. It's a lovely little witticism - comparing her to the home help, although I doubt it would have improved her mood if she knew that she was being compared to the servant of the house! I have to say, she does have a pretty grim scowl in most of the photos that she is in!
"What do I look like!"
I think this is Sarah's sister, Doris and her daughter, Elsie. I am assuming Doris did not like this photo of herself, hence the exclamation mark ending the rhetorical question! I really relate to this - how many of us have looked at a photo of ourselves and hated it! She looks a bit stressed on her day out to the beach! Am guessing it is the late 1920s.
The Duke and Duchess of Walton at their Town House"
I know that this is taken at 277 Queen's Drive Liverpool because that is the address of Sarah's sister, Lilian and her husband Tom for many years and I can make out the number 277 on the door! . If it is the day they moved in, then I know that the year would be 1931 because in 1930 they were at a different address. They were married in 1923. Clearly, this is an affectionate comment by a member of the family. Presumably the couple are really proud of the house (which was rented). I have seen photos of the house and the front has changed little. Was it considered a step up from a previous address? They certainly look very proud of it! I love their obvious pride and happiness.
"Jay got too close to the sweet peas
Ken is selling clothes pegs!
Bet can see the joke
Our back garden"
I am still trying to find out who these three children are; they appear in several photos linked to Joe and Sarah. It's just a lovely description of the children - we can recognise who is who because of the little story that is attached to each name! We know it's a back garden - but not whose! Really frustrating. I will keep trying to identify them as they appear in a lot of the photos. This is a lovely, happy moment captured in time.
"The triplets"
See previous photo! I really need to find out who they are. Another really lovely family photo. Clearly they were really close, hence the nickname!
"This one is for Edgar from Betty
(Eve Tempting Adam!)
Edgar is Joe and Sarah's son. Once again, Betty turns up in a photo! Who is she!!? It's a rather cheeky comment! I actually thought at first that this was a cricket ball, but maybe it is indeed an apple. I suspect both Betty and Edgar were a bit embarrassed by the comment!
"In our back garden, supposed to be the lawn
but no neighbours possess a lawn mower, so it's more like a field!"
Ken again - the story is self explanatory - no mowers in the street means a scruffy back garden!
"Nanna and Duggie eating lumps of sugar off the tea tray!"
Nanna turns up a lot in photos - often an early "photo bomber" appearing in the background! Duggie is also in several - again, I'm not sure who either of them are but they were in Sarah's photo album so must be related. I didn't notice the sugar lump until I turned the photo over and read the back! I then notice the sugar and tea cups -just the job for a day on the beach!
And finally, another happy photo and a happy Lilian! (seated, 2nd right) at Holcombe Hill
"Lily says, note how nice she looks!"
And she does!
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