Fashion and Photos
Following an update from one group member on her success with DNA testing after some suggestions during the last meeting, we moved on to photographs that group members had brought with them.
We started with a wartime wedding photo showing a guest wearing a fox fur. The group member was trying to find out who the four people were in the photo, two of whom were in uniform. The group, as always, came up with several helpful ideas to move that searchforwards, including social media groups and military museums.
Many photographs showed the changes in fashions, with some amazing outfits, several more furs and some spectacular hats putting in appearances. There were photographs taken in studios on special occasions and others taken at the beach… with the subjects still in their Sunday best!
One member had a family wedding photograph from 1908 and was doing her best to identify everyone in the picture, using any available snippets of information.
Another member had photographs dating back to the 19th century, many of which had been scanned by Medway Archives to add to their collection. She also had in her possession a pre-war King’s School year photograph. Apparently, many of those featured went on to become bomber pilots and were lost during the war.
There were tales of photographs with missing family members due to family fallouts or wedding photographs with a missing member who refused to attend ‘the wrong church’. There were even some astonishing likenesses spotted to the members who brought the photos of their ancestors!
All in all, an enjoyable afternoon of tea, biscuits and chat.
--------------------------------------------
Report by Helen Stenhouse