A gala, where is it ?

[macintosh]

I don't remember any Empire Day celebrations  in North Yorkshire either, although I do remember the rationing that carried on into the 1950s, sweets couldn't be bought without "candy points" rationing coupons, all our school houses were named after Empire/Commonwealth symbols, Springbok, Beaver, KIWI and Wallaby.
I remember  Empire Day being celebrated purely by acknowledgement at the school  assembly but no parades or galas,
Equally Oak Apple day was mentioned as well, as was Trafalgar Day.

Happy days

James

[Wiggy]

Bit off topic, but I remember helping Gran pack boxes of goodies to send to England because you were still on rations!   

[Henry7]

I don't think the date would be as late as 1953; Tommy Handley died in January 1949 and his very popular ITMA show ended.  So if the photo was taken after that date "Mrs Mopp" would probably be unfamiliar to many of the children here.

That might be the case, but the children might not have had much input into the choice of character.  "Mrs Mopp" was probably Mum's choice, as it would have been an easy costume to put together at no expense. 

Yes, that makes good sense!

And as camera films were practically unobtainable (in Britain at least) for the general public, from early in WW2 until about 1948, maybe these photos were taken later.   

[LizzieL]

I think more likely a summer village fete, most villages had them in the fifties and many still do including the rural village I live in now.
What size are the negatives and is there anything printed on the film edge? That might help to date them.

[ChrissieL]

I think it is the early 50s  The girl's hairstyles look exactly like some old photos of me!

Chris

[mazi]

I somehow feel that this is one school's contribution to a larger event, there are other groups around, but mum or teacher has photographed their group, I wonder where they borrowed the flag from, there was never one that large at any of the events in our village.

mike

[stanmapstone]

There are plenty of photos of "Empire Day" if you search Google Images.

Stan

[mazi]

oops

[Jolee]

We had a big celebration at my school in 1951 for the Festival of Britian