Our photos from the past

Here's another photo from yesteryear which has been emailed to us by our regular contributor Bob Hanley of Telford. We're looking up Mardol in Shrewsbury, but we don't have the year. About 1950, do you think? As you can see, parking was an issue in the county town even back then. Further down the street is the old Empire cinema.

He's here! Alan Painter drops off Father Christmas outside Shrewsbury's Maddox department store back in the late 1960s.The young lady accompanying Santa is unidentified, but the car is a restored 1903 Clement.

This picture from the Frank Painter Collection, loaned by Shrewsbury transport historian Roy Pilsbury.nextpage

We've been bringing you some photos from the Frank Painter Collection, so it's about time that we showed you a picture of Frank Painter's, isn't it?

This is the Frank Painter & Sons service garage at Ditherington, Shrewsbury, in about 1956. The photo has come to us via Shrewsbury transport historian Roy Pilsbury.

This picture of the filming of A Christmas Carol in The Square, Shrewsbury, in 1984, hangs by the fireplace at Chris Edwards's home at Norbury, Bishop's Castle, and he has a bit of fun by asking if people can spot two things wrong with this Victorian scene. Well, can you? We'll tell you what they are at the end.

Chris has a special interest in the picture because it was his firm, Norbury Turkeys, which supplied all the poultry for the Victorian shop window display on the left. After filming the poultry was given to local hospitals.

Now, back to those mistakes. You'll have to look very closely, but on the extreme right-hand edge, a camera lens is poking into the shot, and just below you can see somebody in blue jeans, not exactly in keeping with the scene.

This is Kenworth House, a Duke of Sutherland cottage in Lilleshall village, as seen in a postcard franked in 1912 which was loaned to us by Ivor Baldwin, of Telford.

It was the home of Ivor's grandmother, Dora Nicholls (later Mrs Dora Baldwin), although those in the photo are unknown.

Dora was at the time working at Healey Hall, Healey, near Rochdale, and this card was posted to her there.

The message was: "June 24th, 1912. My dearest Dora, I trust you will have finished your journey safely by the time you receive this. I am sorry I could not get down to Lilleshall this morning but it was a job I could not possibly put off that I had to photograph. I shall be looking forward to seeing you again at August sweetheart. I wish it was here now. I can't possibly tell you how much I miss you dearest. I shall be looking out for a line in the morning. With all my love dearest sweetheart, yours ever, Ted xxxxxxxxx."

Ted will have been Ted Baldwin, Ivor's grandfather, who subsequently married Dora.

The Baldwins were photographers in Dawley.

Our thanks to Phil Stringer for emailing us this photo from an old family album.

"It was taken at the Shrewsbury Ambulance Service personnel children's Christmas party. It was held at the ambulance depot in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, in the 1950s. I can see myself and my brother, and recognise a couple of the other children, Station Officer Turner's children, and Stuart MacCrossen.

"I thought you may be interested in putting it in your Pictures From The Past," said Phil.

Here's another photo from an old family album which has been emailed to us by Phil Stringer, and it shows youngsters from the choir of St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, singing carols (one imagines) by the Christmas tree.

"My brother Adrian is on the left in the picture taken outside the church and in front of the Christmas tree," Phil tells us.

The photo dates from the late 1950s, he adds.

It's nativity play time at Stapleton, near Shrewsbury, although we're going back many years, perhaps to the late 1930s.

Playing the part of Mary, centre, and holding baby Jesus is young Beryl Rogers (now Mrs Beryl Wilde, of Shrewsbury).

The Rogers family used to live at School House, Stapleton, until 1941.

Next to Beryl to the right as you look at the picture, "praying", is her sister Joan Rogers, while second from right with crossed arms and white coat is brother John.