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Search forStreet party picture presents mystery of who, where and why
Thursday, October 16, 2008, 23:00
But can any reader help the Echo identify any of the people shown here, the location, or what event they are celebrating?
The photograph was sent in to Nostalgia by Christine Parr, who has relatives in the picture.
Mrs Parr, from Mount Pleasant, thinks the children and adults wearing party hats and waving Union Jacks were celebrating the coronation of King George VI on May 12, 1937, or the present queen on June 2, 1953.
The legs of the trestle tables show they belonged to the former city bakery of Hill, Palmer and Edwards, and may offer a clue to location.
The family business had a plant at Exwick and was taken over by what was then British Bakeries before finally closing in January 1993.
Geoff Worrall recalled that he spent a night-time visit to the bakery as a young, curly-haired Echo reporter 45-years-ago.
"There I had to report on a major installation of new equipment for improving the production and handling of their bread," he said.
"We members of the press were shown around by the boss of the bakery, Charles Hill, who until then was rather better known to us as a City Council alderman.
"We were all impressed by what was seen as a major capital investment in new equipment.
He added: "After he had left Mount Radford School late in the 19th Century Charles Hill had become a clerk with the Great Western Railway, but eventually persuaded his father, CJS Hill, to let him join the family's bakery, which was then located in Clifton Street, Newtown."
Mrs Parr said: "I think this photograph may have been taken at Newtown because it looks familiar, but anything from readers which might throw some light on this would be most welcome."
Mrs Parr can be contacted on 01392 664611.
Can you shed any light on when this picture of an Exeter street party was taken and why the party was held?
