Mystery ceremony with an Italian link
Nobody is looking happy, so whatever is going on here in Bishop's Castle is a serious event.
And that's a bier in front. They're holding flowers and wreaths. But where's the coffin? And if this is a funeral, why are they not dressed in black, or at least wearing black ties?
The photo is all a bit of a mystery, and a mystery with an Italian flavour, as one of the words on the wreath ribbon reads Mainardi. Mainardi is a common Italian surname.
There again, one of the other words on the ribbon ends in zy and, although we cannot make out the word, it may be something like Koledzy, Roledzy, or Rollozy.
Intriguingly, koledzy is a Polish word which translates as "friends."
So if that is indeed the word, we have a sombre Italian and Polish occasion of some sort in the Shropshire town.
The picture was emailed in to us by Paula Middleton of Bishop's Castle who is hoping a reader may be able to solve the riddle.
"It appears to be a memorial ceremony with an Italian connection, but that's only a guess," says Paula.
"It is outside St John the Baptist Church at Bishop's Castle and it looks like the bier from Bishop's Castle church in the foreground, but no coffin on it. The background is the Old Tan House and The Lymes in Church Street.
"Someone had put the photo, with a few others I didn't recognise, in a box with some of our family photos. I think they probably belonged to a Mr Leslie Peel, because his name is on a few cards I found as well.
"I wondered if it was something to do with prisoners-of-war who settled around here, but the only Italian ex-POW I knew was Julio del Franco, who lived at Norbury.
"Julio made the unusual patterned concrete blocks that he used to build walls and gate posts around Norbury and Wentnor."
Anyone who can help with information can contact Toby Neal on 01952 241458 or at toby.neal@shropshirestar.co.uk on email.
