At last it can be shown - a Shropshire bouncing baby picture which was banned at the time
Will you guess why this picture was never used? Oh no you won't!
And you can study it all you like, but we doubt you'll guess why it was rejected for publication all those years ago.
But first let's wish Gerry Bensley a happy 59th birthday, if he is still with us... and if indeed his name is Gerry. Allegedly he was named after Gerry Marsden, lead singer of Gerry and the Pacemakers, a top 1960s pop group.
The picture shows Gerry Marsden and group members going along to the maternity ward of Shrewsbury's Copthorne Hospital on December 31, 1965, to see the newcomer who, it was said, was being named in his honour.
Mum was Shirley Bensley, wife of the assistant manager of the Granada Theatre in Shrewsbury, Mike Bensley, and their baby boy had weighed in at 8lbs 2oz when he was born on the morning of New Year's Eve.
Star photographer Bob Craig went to take pictures and his details record that "Shirley's only disappointment regarding the little lad was not being able to see her favourite pop star, Gerry and the Pacemakers. To complete a wonderful day for her, however, husband Mike arrived in the evening together with... Gerry and the Pacemakers. Bensley junior will now be named, Guy Jeremy... "
So not directly after Gerry Marsden then - the pop star's first name was Gerard.
Gerry Marsden is extreme right, and we think Mike Bensley is extreme left. The pop group was taking part in a show at the Granada called Christmas Crackers, which began a two week run on December 27, 1965, and also starred Norman Vaughan and Mrs Mills.
As to why the picture was not published at the time nor, so far as we know, since, it was in line with a ruling made by Ted Ireland, who was the first editor of the Shropshire Star when the paper was launched in 1964.
An attached note with the picture written by a sub editor called Keith and addressed to "Gordon" - that will be Gordon Riley, the Star's first news editor - explains. It reads: "Attached pix by Bob Craig were rejected on Saturday. Subs did not like his Scottish dancing pix. The Editor does not want any more panto stars appearing in pix, unless it is something really exceptional."
Clearly the picture was not exceptional enough to make the cut.
