Found this unusual old photograph in a photo album – it’s been through some tough times, so I thought I better scan it before it gets any worse.
The man in the photograph is my grandfather’s youngest brother, Gordon Dewey. Quite why he’s with three women staring into a large bowl of cake mix is a complete mystery. I think the photograph is possibly one taken by a newspaper photographer – due to the original’s size and paper – it being different from all other photos in the collection.
At a guess, the woman on the far left is his girlfriend, Maisie, who appears in a couple of other photographs and is someone that my grandmother remembers, but I have no record of her surname.
Sadly, Gordon died aged 20 from a brain haemorrhage in November 1954. He never married, and he died without issue.
There has to be a story behind this photo! As you think it may be a newspaper photo, have you searched likely publications?
You have identified the young man as Gordon, who died aged 20 in 1954. As he appears to be at least in his late teens or twenties, that should date this photo to the last 2 or 3 years of his life, ca. 1951 – 1954. Before reading the rest of the post, my initial thought was that the photo dated to the 1930s, based on the young couple’s attire. However, they are both conservatively dressed, so accurate dating is not easy. The clothes do not follow the austerity regulations of WW2 and years following, so a post rationing 1950s date is possible.
Some more questions to ask:
What is the lapel badge?
Are there any annotations of the back?
Are there any photographer’s marks, dates, reprint notices or brand of photographic paper on the back?
What are the dimensions of the photo?
LikeLike
Hello Sue, thanks for the comment.
Gordon was born in 1934, so agreeing with your assumption that he’s in his late teens or 20, this pitches the photo to those last few years.
There are no marks on the reverse of the photo, which measures 162mm wide by 110mm deep.
He appears here wearing a similar badge (prefect?) in what I think is an Ely school photo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/familytreeuk/6341507631/
He attended university, although I’ve no idea which one yet.
LikeLike