Blyth - Photo Unknown Lady Mayoress/Local Dignitary - Mid 1950s - Please Help

[DavidJP]

Hi all,

A bit of a long shot here i know, but i hope that someone can help me to identify the lady in the attached photo.

The little girl dressed as queen/princess of hearts is my late mother, i think aged about 7 to 10 years old which would put the photo as having been taken in 1953-56 as she was born in 1946. The photo & one other that i have of my mother in the same outfit but facing the camera as opposed to side on in the photo here, both appear to be newspaper photos.

Does anyone recognise the lady mayoress/local dignitary that my mother is either being presented with a prize by or is presenting something to the dignitary in question?

I do recall my late grandmother saying that the photos were taken in Blyth.

Any help with this would be great.

Many thanks in advance.

Kind regards

David

[Phodgetts]

I've sent word to my Moles in Blyth (bunch of old codgers  ). I'll let you know the outcome.

Philip

[DavidJP]

Hi Phillip,

Many thanks, much appreciated.

Kind regards

David

[Phodgetts]

This is the reply I got from my spies in Blyth. The response is from one of the Blyth Local History Society bods.

"the woman in the photo is the Mayoress of Blyth.  Knowing the approximate date of the picture would help.  It's either Mrs Davey Baron or Mrs Aaron Walton.  Mrs Baron was Mayoress in 1950 and 1951.  Mrs Walton was Mayoress in 1949, 1952 and 1953.  This is the probable period that the photo was taken.  Look in the background, and the piano player. Could be wrong, but it looks like John Stenhouse."

That boils it down to one of two ladies and given your dates of 1953 - 56, probably swings the balance in favour of Mrs Walton.

P

[DavidJP]

Hi Phillip,

Many thanks indeed for your reply, its very much appreciated!

That's brilliant, all i have to do now is to check the local newspapers, when i'm next in the area. As i mentioned in my original post the photos appear to be newspaper photos.

Unfortunately the name John Stenhouse means nothing to me.

Many thanks again.

Kind regards

David

[Phodgetts]

A little more information has filtered through from Blyth.

"it was the Mayoress of Blyth's 'At Home in St. Cuthbert's Church Hall'."

Exactly what that means I do not know, but it at least gets you the location of the presentation. St Cuthbert's still stands.

http://www.blythchurches.co.uk/newsite/stcuthberts/st_cuthberts.php

It has been confirmed though that the lady was indeed Mrs Walton. Contact has been made with one of her grandchildren who has been able to confirm it and provide the above information.

The individual from the Blyth History Society who has delved into this for you has really enjoyed sleuthing this one. So many thinks to him (GS).

Philip

[DavidJP]

Hi Philip,

Many thanks indeed for your reply, very much appreciated!

St Cuthbert's Church makes a lot of sense, as now that i think about it, it was the church used by the family for many years. Various members lived in Beaconsfield Street, Bath Terrace etc, at that end of town as it were.

As you say i at least now have a name & an idea of what the event was, should be plenty to be able to find something in the local paper(s)!

Many thanks again for your help & please pass on my thanks & appreciation to the Blyth History Society Individual.

Kind regards

David

[Phodgetts]

Will do, thank you. 

P

[AlisdairGB]

I knew I'd seen the photo before!

The "At Home" is an occasion for the Mayoress to meet local people in a social setting and potentially to make money for the Mayor's charity.

In later Blyth Valley days it was at the "new" Civic Centre ( formerly "the cleurb" ) , but my attempts to get my wife to revive the concept a couple of years ago when she was Mayoress came to nothing!