Who are the bigwigs and where?

[Dimps]

Can anyone identify the dignitaries in the picture and where it might be.  Everyone is looking very sombre and part of the word "opening" is at the bottom - the opening of a book of condolence, maybe?

All suggestions very welcome.  It's from a friend whose family is from Woolwich, but it doesn't look like Woolwich to us.

Thank you.

Deborah

[Ruskie]

I love these mystery photos - it is amazing what people can deduce.

First thing I noticed was the washing on the lines (behind the crowd)  I will keep looking ...
sign/plaque at the back below second window says MOTORLORRIEL?(or something) .... I can't make out the rest.

Anything on the back of the postcard? Who did this belong to and where did they live? (answers to these questions might give clues) Is the part with "openin" on it a separate piece of paper?

Time wise I will guess 1920s/30s.

PS. MOTORLORRIES makes more sense ... perhaps?

[Greensleeves]

There are houses and shops up above, and a signboard which unfortunately I can't read.

[Greensleeves]

Just wondering if it's some kind of subway as a street can be seen top right at a higher level.

[Ruskie]

I'm finding the depth of field (or something) a bit confusing. Is the crowd below the line of the street? You can see the row of houses in the background? They look higher up to me ... 
Snap greensleeves - I see we are thinking similarly.

[Ruskie]

Is the washing hanging below roofing or some sort of covering?

[James1950]

It does not look like a civic affair when you would expect to see a Town Hall in the background. Perhaps the opening of a new factory having regard to the background ?

[Ruskie]

Just wondering if it's some kind of subway as a street can be seen top right at a higher level.

Maybe the opening of a new rail line / underground extension? It would be nice to know where the person who owned this postcard lived. The pillar in the middle looks like something you might see on a rail platform.

The wooden boarding to the top left of the picture might be the back of an advertising sign which is facing the road at ground level?

[James1950]

It is interesting that apart from the two young men to the right of the lamp post all seem quite miserable. The crowd do not look over joyed for some reason.The two young men are amused by something. Did young men have such long hair in the 20s and 30s ?