Old Mystery Photo

[Jan_down_south]

lolol you can't blame someone for trying!

Glad you're all enjoying the different theories, I know I am!

Jan 

[dave the tyke]

We didn't call it central heating in those days, but we certainly had the big old radiators in hospitals and the school I went to had a massive fan which pushed hot air from a boiler around underground passage ways and into the classrooms via ducts. Maybe if it was spring the heating would have been turned off.
What are the strange square designs on the lady's hat near the far end of the table?
The 'staff' look more WI than 'nurse' or 'carer' I think the 2 at the end in similar dresses, uniforms? could be permanent staff to the building, whatever it is. They look younger..... and board.
Dave

[kizmiaz]

Just a suggestion, but could this picture have been taken on 3rd October 1952, the day that tea rationing ended after the war? They do seem to be making much of the whole "tea" thing, and their clothing could certainly suggest they were dressed for a slightly less than pleasant October, which is apparently what the weather was like in that year

"1952 Cold and changeable, with some night frosts. It was often stormy and with some heavy showers. A tornado hit and caused some damage in Londonderry (NI) on the 23rd."
(Source: http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/british_weather_in_october.htm)

Just a thought, but it makes sense to me.

Glen

[northern_rose]

Just a suggestion, but could this picture have been taken on 3rd October 1952,

Nice idea but spring flowers in October???

[kizmiaz]

Fake ones? Autumn crocuses rather than tupils? I'm no botanist - I still don't know the difference between a weed and a flower! - but the leaves don't look like the tupils or daffs I've seen. Are they definitely tulips and daffs?

Yes, that bit was the only flaw in my otherwise perfect logic 

Glen

[liverpool annie]

After the war there was no housing etc - I'd say late 1940's - maybe '46 - '47
was this an old Army camp or something where people were staying ?
Till the new houses were built - maybe prefabs ............ !
what holiday was around Easter - or was it Easter?
It really does look like the WI or a church group who would feed the less
fortunate on the holiday !!
Fiercely independent older folk didn't want to be thought of as unfortunate -
hence the Sunday - go - to- meeting clothes and the not so happy faces !

Annie 

[griz]

Hey Annie , remember?
"Down in the jungle living in a tent,
 Better than a prefab -  no rent !

  :-))

I think its the 1940's. It could be early 40's too,  looking at the waved hair of the ladies in the back. That fashion, I believe, was left over from the 1920's and perhaps worn also in the thirties. The apron's look very 40's and the dresses at the back with spots are 1930's fashions.

 I remember a relative having a dark green dress liike that with a frill round the bottom, and loose frilly flaps on the  sleeves. The spots were grey/cream and looked like eyeballs . It was like one spot overlayed on top of another . She called the colour "bottle green". I know when the spots fashion came out because she told me she had bought it in the thirties but hardly worn it as she was not fond of the colour.

Looks like a Christmas tea for the local seniors, to me .

[liverpool annie]

Griz ! - I'm a Lanky - I never heard that song - is it Yorky then??

 

[griz]

Annie, It is a bit from an old Radio comedian Tommy Handley . I don't know why it stuck in my head. It was chanted to the sound of 'jungle' drums. There was also don't forget the diver,Sir.!" (along with bubbly noises,)  and  Mrs Mop, his char, "Can I  do you now sir? "

I am a Cheshire cat with  relatives from  in Lancs,  and Yorks. 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/stars/tommy_handley/itma.shtml