date of this photo and anything on the purpose of the gathering

[arthurk]

If your great grandfather (and/or the sign) was the focus of the photo, it seems a bit odd that he isn't seated in the middle - though you could also argue that by the rule of thirds, his position in the asymmetrical grouping is just as much the focus of the picture.

Interesting about the Butchers Charitable Institution. Was he son of Roland and Theresa, in 1881 census at RG11/3925 fo66 p34? If so, then his father was a butcher's assistant, so once orphaned, he might have been eligible for assistance there.

Can anyone narrow down the date based on what the guys are all wearing? I'm currently wondering if the picture might be of people from the institution, to mark his leaving or coming top in a exam etc. If he had been there, I suspect he would have left before getting married (in 1899).

I see the institution's records are at London Metropolitan Archives (ref. CLC/117):

https://search.lma.gov.uk/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/LMA_OPAC/web_detail/REFD+CLC~2F117?SESSIONSEARCH

Click the Level Down button at the bottom to see all the individual items in the collection.

[jim1]

datewise 1908-12ish.

[Jool]

I have been squinting at the "sign"
When I tilt my laptop screen back a bit the image appears darker and I think I can see a full length image of a lady in a long dress with her hands clasped in front of her, it is more noticeable on the larger scan than the cropped one. I have tried to fiddle about with the image in IrfanView to make it clearer but I'm not very good at it.

Can anyone else see this or is it just my eyes 

[arthurk]

datewise 1908-12ish.

Sorry - missed that. But Mhillbilly does say

...date wise this is definitely from about 1900 to 1913. In 1909 he was 30.

One of the books I consulted suggests moustaches may have been more common in the 1890s than the 1900s - and to my mind he looks closer in age to 20 than 30.

Jool - after playing with the levels a bit I can see what you mean, though I couldn't get anything more than a rough outline. I think some others are better at this than us.

[Jool]

Jool - after playing with the levels a bit I can see what you mean, though I couldn't get anything more than a rough outline. I think some others are better at this than us.

Arthur, I'm glad you can see it too, hopefully someone may be able to tweak it a bit.

[Gadget]

Could it be some kind of marble ?

Maybe a butcher's slab??

[alpinecottage]

Is it my imagination, or does he appear to have a strap over his left shoulder?

I know there is a dark line showing the edge of the body of the jacket on both sides, but it seems to me that the strap is making the shoulder of the jacket 'puff up' around it on one side?

Though even if anyone agrees with me, I don't know what that would signify - a camera strap over his shoulder (were they that small then?), binoculars?

I agree he does have something hanging from a strap on his shoulder.  If he is standing, he is remarkably short but in fact, I think he is sitting on a tall stool or chair - an umpire's chair or perhaps a taller chair to get a better view of a race - pigeons? horses? dogs?  The background seems rather odd with the lean-tos as well.

[Jool]

The man behind and to the left (as we look at it) of Rowland also has a strap over his left shoulder, but as Igor Strav has already said, I'm not sure what this would signify   

[IgorStrav]

The background seems rather odd with the lean-tos as well.

I don't know that the background is so unusual - I've seen wedding photos with the group all dressed up to the nines (insofar as their income affords) evidently in the back garden with the shed and fence at the rear - and sometimes not even any flowers or grass to lighten the effect