Neil Suckling who loaned us this image thinks it maybe ’Fair Week’ in 1965, the last time they did a procession like this. He can identify: ”the lady front right, in the gold trimmed dress, is my grandma, Margaret Ward Suckling (nee Verrill)”. Can you recognise anyone there?
Patricia Taylor (nee Geraghty) tells us: ”This is the Staithes cast of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which was performed one day during the carnival in the year this photograph was taken – Beth Hicks is in costume at the front right of the picture. The balcony scene was delivered from the first floor of one of the buildings in the High Street.” Phil Ransome suggests: ”It may be John Pearson in the red and blue tights!”. Jackie Roe-Lawton tells us: ”Mrs Lowden, who used to sell toffee from her house steps (now known as Toffee Crackle House) is standing in front of the Pork Shop, wearing a white bonnet. She was blind in her later years, and looked after her neice Felicia.” Snapper also advises regarding people in the picture: ”I think Jeff Barker was dressed in purple, Doug Moss in red and blue leggings, Don Burns in the silver outfit and Isaac Unthank on the stool in the door way.”
Judith Somodi-Spence assisted with: “Mrs Lowden was my granny. Felicia – my half sister – stayed with granny for quite sometime as a child. My gran had seven children; she made and sold toffee to help make ends meet following her husband’s death. Another of her daughters married the “steers” lifeboat coxswain.” Felicia Walker (nee Lowden) also assisted with: “Just for the record. I happen to be the mixed race granddaughter (not niece) of the toffee lady Marie Lowden. She looked after me since I was around two years old until I was 14. Without her kindness and intervention I would not be the person I am today. Not only was she blind, she was also deaf following an explosion of an oven in her teens. She was an inspiration and and an author of many books. I was blessed to have such a wonderful person in my life as a child.”
Andrea Foord recalls: “I have just come across this photograph from the Staithes Carnival. I had started Whitby Grammar School September 1964 and became friends with a Staithes girl, Victoria Brunt, whose grandfather also live in the village. The following summer I was invited to join in this Carnival and I remember that year Vicky’s grandfather made huge Disney heads out of paper mache for us to wear in the parade. I was Mickey Mouse and my friends were Donald Duck and Pluto! I think the following year we had horse bodies to wear, fastened on with braces and we learnt a very simple drum rhythm to play. Look North covered the Carnival on TV with Mike Neville doing the interviewing! Great fun!” Cindy Russell says : “My Grandmother was Ellen Verrill married to Ernest Bidmade . I have the photograph of great great geat grandad Issac in my living room I am researching my mothers side now . The Bidmades.“
Image courtesy of Neil Suckling and thanks to Neil Suckling, Patricia Taylor, Philip Ransome, Jackie Roe-Lawton, Snapper, Andrea Foord and Cindy Russell for the updates. Especial thanks to Judith Somodi-Spence and Felicia Walker nee Lowden for their putting the record straight and many apologies from the Archive for incorrect reporting.
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