This week's pictures from the past

Adam Green, of BBC Radio Shropshire's breakfast show, emailed this picture, and tells us: "My girlfriend's 93-year-old nan (who would prefer not to be named) was showing us some photos the other weekend — including the one I've attached.

"It shows the Forester Arms, Horsehay, bowling club from 1917. The picture was taken over the road from the pub (which is still open today) on the old bowling green.

"The man in the centre of the front row is John Machin, my girlfriend's great-great grandfather. John was landlord of the Forester's before he handed control to his son, Cecil Harry Machin (great-grandfather).

"'Harry' is seated on the front row, third from the left next to John.

"Only weeks after this photo, Harry went to the Western Front to fight with the King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

"I wonder if any of your readers might know who any of the other gentlemen in the photo are? And is this the oldest sports team photo you have received?" (We can answer the last point, Adam: no, it isn't).

Old school pictures can cause us a bit of a problem. Firstly, they tend to be very wide, and secondly the format is usually always very similar.

But as this one has come all the way from Australia, we'll do our best.

• For a larger image, click here

It was emailed to us by Peter J. Wignall, of Brisbane, who says: "It shows Adams Grammar School, Wem, in 1946, and includes my brother Trevor, who is third from the right, front row.

"I attended two years later. Most of these pupils will be dead and all the teachers will."

Incidentally the "Adams Grammar School" he is talking about is not to be confused with Adams Grammar at Newport. The Wem school is called the Thomas Adams School these days.

Winners! These youngsters from 26th Shrewsbury Scouts (Harlescott) were the 1951 winners of a county camping competition called the County Banner after the flag they received. The competition was held at Yeaton Pevery, near Baschurch, and the man presenting the flag is thought to be Offley Wakeman.

This photo comes from Bill Jones, of Mochdre, Newtown, but is from the collection of the scout leader at the time, the late Geoff Keighley.

Receiving the banner is Colin Livingston, then comes Brian Walker, an unknown adult, Bryn Evans (who provided Mr Jones with names and information), Ken Weston, Peter Maguire, and Brian Price.

Mr Jones was himself scout leader at 26th Shrewsbury for many years, but this was before his time. He left in 1977 and continues to be a scout leader in Mid Wales.

Here's Clun Methodist Chapel, around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This is one of a couple of photos of the chapel loaned to us by Mrs Jan Cockerill, of Wellington.

She tells us: "These photographs belonged to my great-grandparents, William Pugh and Eleanor Pugh, nee Lowe, parents of 14 children who farmed at Pen-y-cwm, Blackhill, Clun. They became Methodists in 1876, and at that time were evicted from tenanted property, due to them leaving the Church of England church in Bishop's Castle. William became a Methodist lay preacher."

Wot, no boats? Here's an attractive rural scene showing the canal at Pant and a canal bridge in the distance.

There is no date with this old postcard view, which was loaned to us by Diana Humphreys of Maesbrook, but it may well be Edwardian, which was of course long after the heyday of the canals.

It's always nice to have a photo with a story behind it, and there's an interesting tale behind this picture which was taken at Carvin, near Lille, in France on September 3, 1944 and shows, right, Private Eric Wood of Admaston, who was in the 4th Battalion of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, and left, the late Mick Davies of Shrewsbury.

This photo, ­ taken by a grateful liberated French person, ­ was posted back to Mr Wood's wife Margaret, nee Newman, in Admaston, in January 1945.

The sender, student Erouart Claude from Carvin, wrote: "Carvin was free the 2nd. They were with their motor car just in front of my house and they drunk with my parents some coffee. They were the first English soldiers we saw in our house after four years of occupation. So I am very proud to write to their families. I am now the voice of French People who thank the English troops. I hope you will be glad to receive this photo they had asked me to send you."

Lady Baden Powell, the Chief Guide, takes the salute at a marchpast of guides in Shrewsbury on September 29, 1951.

• For a larger image, click here

Lady Baden Powell had attended a service at St Mary's Church during which the dedication of the Shropshire Girl Guides county standard took place. After taking the salute at the marchpast, she addressed a rally of guides, brownies, and guiders in the grounds of Shrewsbury Castle.

This photo was emailed to us by Mandy Swain, on behalf of her friend Mrs Glenys Wilkes, of Much Wenlock, to whom the photo belongs and who wanted to know where and when it was — ­ questions we were able to answer. The photo was taken by the entrance to Shrewsbury Castle.

Mandy added: "She knows of the following people in the photo: ­ Lady Baden Powell taking the salute; Hazel Forgham is leading the parade, who was then Dawley Guide Captain. The first row of guides includes Lola Williams, Peggy Boden and Jean Windsor from what was then the Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale Guides."