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Hi
Good to make contact!!  For a moment thought I had discovered a ghastly Sharples secret, given Richard Leslie's mysterious disappearance there is always a possibility.  Assume you must be Lorraine.  Tony was with your parents last week when he was over in Hampshire and had a good catchup session, but given that he is a man he didn't ask all the questions I would have asked so I am a bit vague about where you are and what you're doing so hope you will keep in touch.  Talk soon.  Julia

Hello again
Thanks for coming back so quickly.  The photo comes from the Accrington Pals website and I think it is also in the book of the same title but I do not have it to hand to check for sure.  The website is well worth a visit lots of background describing the recruitment process which I think was where Richard Sharples was involved.  He seems to have been a sort of territorial or militia member for many years.  They actually started recruiting before Kitchener made his public appeal for pals regiments so they were ahead of the game.  Richard Sharples is the one to the left of the mayor without a moustache and with his legs uncrossed. I think he was acting colonel for a few months as you say then he retired in 1915 and never went to France. It must have been uncomfortable for him when the pals were decimated and he was at home with all the bereaved families. His own son, the second Richard went into the RFC or RAF so no trenches for him! Richard senior died in 1929.