This week's pictures from the past

There was a lot going on in Rock Road, Ketley, on February 28, 1974. But what was it all about? It was actually part of the construction work for the new M54 motorway ­ or 'Wellington bypass' as it was often called then, as it was only a relatively short stretch which was not connected to the rest of the motorway network. It was not until 1983 that the M54 was linked up to the M6.

Mrs Rosetta Farnham, of Ludlow, who loaned us this photo, says it shows the annual dinner and dance of the old Ludlow Rural District Council and reckons it was in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

And she has some sobering information: "Everyone on the photograph is dead, except me, including my daughter who died two years ago, and I'm in my 80s." She says: "It was at the Angel Hotel, Ludlow, and was on Friday, March 3. It doesn't say which year. Tickets were £1.50.

"At the top of the table is Mrs Evelyn Marsh with, to her left as you look at the picture, her husband Mr R. Marsh. Next is Mr Maddox, then Mr and Mrs Montford, and then Mr and Mrs Montford senior, who were all one family.

"To the right of Mrs Marsh is me, Mrs Rosetta Farnham, then my daughter Pauline ­ who worked for the council and took me as a guest ­ then Mr Ted Hughes, then Mr and Mrs Shenton.

"Except myself and Mrs Marsh, who were guests, everyone worked for the council."

This photo dates from January 1969 and the accompanying story said:

"Oswestry's new £400,000 Smithfield market opened today. This ram was one of the first animals to arrive.

"The Smithfield was opened by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn who said there had been a market in the town since Saxon times. He praised the private enterprise behind the new market - built by a group of auctioneers - and paid tribute to their hard work, and initiative."

The two gentlemen are unidentified.

We're going back almost 20 years with this picture, which was taken in Bishop's Castle. The print in our files has the date April 30, 1991, written on the back ­ this may be the publication date. The caption read: "The prize for the champion pen of store cattle at Bishop's Castle prize show and sale being presented to Mr Robert Richards, of J and R Richards, Edenhope. Mr Richards received the award plus the Barclays Bank silver salver from Mr Colin Ruscoe of the bank. Also pictured are judges Mr Gary Hamer of Ludlow and Martin Brothers of Belbroughton."

We're going to take a punt on this one and guess that it shows Hadley Male Voice Choir, and associated committee members and ladies.

Either we shall be right, in which case there's no harm done, or we shall be wrong, in which case one of our readers will contact us to put us right.

How can we lose?

We don't know the location but they've obviously won something as there are two cups. The board underneath says: "1919-23. 10. First. 11. Second.....1921-23. Male Voice. 6 First."

The date may then be around 1923 or 1924.

If we are wrong about the choir, do drop us a line. But we know you will anyway!

The board the girl is holding up in this old school photo reads "Ford School, May 19... (then obscured), Group (then obscured)." A note on the back of the print reads "1900?", which is a guesstimate for the date, although it does seem to be somewhat later than that, perhaps around the late Edwardian period. The lady who loaned us the photo prefers not to be named.

Does this bring back memories and make your mouth water? You'll be an older Salopian if so, as this is the Shire Restaurant at Shrewsbury's Della Porta's store back in May 1969. It can't have been a busy time ­ there is a solitary diner, bottom left. Della Porta's is one of Shrewsbury's disappeared shops.